Día de Muertos | ¿Cuál es su origen real? ¿Cuándo y cómo se celebra el día de los muertos en México?

Summary

The Day of the Dead is a rich cultural celebration rooted in Mesoamerican beliefs, where the souls of the deceased return to visit their families. Originating long before the Spanish conquest, this tradition honors the dead with altars featuring food, candles, marigolds, and personal items. The holiday blends pre-Hispanic customs with Catholic practices, particularly All Saints' and All Souls' Days, and is celebrated with vibrant symbols like La Catrina. Celebrated across Mexico and parts of Central America, the Day of the Dead fosters remembrance, family connection, and the cyclical nature of life and death, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Day of the Dead celebration has ancient Mesoamerican origins, with beliefs in an afterlife and the need for offerings to support the deceased's journey.
• 😀 The soul, or 'teyolía' in Mexica and 'ol' in Maya, was considered to leave the body after death and continued to require assistance from the living.
• 😀 Mesoamerican funerary rites included burying the deceased with personal items like tools, food, and jewelry, believed to help them in the afterlife.
• 😀 The syncretism between Catholicism and native traditions resulted in the modern Day of the Dead celebration, coinciding with All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2).
• 😀 The Mexica believed that dying in specific ways determined one's afterlife: warriors, women who died in childbirth, and those who drowned had distinct paradises.
• 😀 The souls of the deceased return to visit their families on specific days, starting with October 28 for tragic deaths and ending on November 2 for adult souls.
• 😀 Traditional altars include offerings such as candles, incense, marigold flowers, food, and personal items to guide and nourish the visiting spirits.
• 😀 The famous sugar skull, 'calavera de azúcar,' symbolizes the Day of the Dead and is linked to pre-Hispanic customs, such as the tzompantli, a display of skulls.
• 😀 La Catrina, a skeleton dressed in elegant attire, became an iconic symbol of the Day of the Dead after being popularized by artist Diego Rivera in the 1940s.
• 😀 The Day of the Dead is celebrated not only in Mexico but also in other countries like Bolivia, Guatemala, and the U.S., each with their regional variations.
• 😀 UNESCO declared the Day of the Dead an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, recognizing its importance as a celebration of life, memory, and family.

Q & A

What is the origin of the Day of the Dead celebration?

The Day of the Dead has its origins in Mesoamerican beliefs, long before the arrival of the Spanish. The indigenous peoples, like the Mexica and Maya, believed that death was not the end, but part of a cyclical process. The souls of the deceased needed offerings from the living to continue their spiritual journey.

How did Mesoamerican cultures view the soul after death?

In Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Mexica and Maya, it was believed that the soul continued to exist after death and needed the help of the living to nourish it, particularly through offerings of food and remembrance. The soul was considered separate from the body and journeyed to an afterlife.

What was the purpose of funerary offerings in ancient Mesoamerican cultures?

Funerary offerings in ancient Mesoamerican cultures included daily objects, food, clothing, and tools, with the intention of helping the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. These offerings were meant to ensure that the deceased would have everything needed for the continuation of their spiritual existence.

How did the Catholic Church influence the Day of the Dead?

With the arrival of Spanish Catholicism in the 16th century, the Day of the Dead began to merge with Catholic traditions like All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). This religious syncretism led to the celebration taking place on these dates, though the belief that the souls of the dead return to visit the living remained rooted in indigenous traditions.

What is the significance of the Day of the Dead in the Mexica worldview?

In the Mexica worldview, death was seen as a necessary part of life and the universe's regeneration. The fate of the deceased was determined by how they died, with different types of death leading to different afterlife destinations, such as paradises or the underworld, Mictlán.

What are the different days associated with the return of the souls during the Day of the Dead celebration?

The souls return on different days: October 28 is for victims of violence or accidents, October 29 for those who drowned or are in purgatory, October 30 for forgotten souls, October 31 for unbaptized children, November 1 for baptized children, and November 2 for adults.

What are the main elements placed on altars during the Day of the Dead celebrations?

Altars typically feature photographs of the deceased, candles, incense (copal), marigold flowers, bread of the dead, favorite foods, drinks (like wine or liquor for adults), salt, water, and sometimes items like cigarettes, toys, and figurines representing the deceased's life.

Why are marigold flowers important in the Day of the Dead altars?

Marigold flowers are used because their color and aroma help guide the souls back to the world of the living. Their vibrant petals lead the spirits to their altars, ensuring they find their way home during the celebration.

Who is La Catrina, and what is her significance in the Day of the Dead?

La Catrina is a skeletal figure created by artist José Guadalupe Posada. Originally called the Garbancera Skull, she critiques Mexicans who tried to adopt European manners, abandoning their own cultural roots. Today, La Catrina has become an icon of the Day of the Dead, symbolizing death and the celebration of life.

How is the Day of the Dead celebrated in regions outside of Mexico?

The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in other countries like Bolivia, Peru, and parts of the United States, with variations such as Hanal Pixán in the Yucatán Peninsula. These celebrations involve offering food, decorations, and remembering the deceased, with some differences in customs and traditions.