![]() Copal – the sap from the tree also used to make alebrijes – is burned for a sweet incense.ĭay of the Dead coincides with harvest time. Altars have candles that are important for their light and their smoke. Other flowers include Flor de Muerto and Cresta de Gallo (Cockscomb). The distinctive scent of marigolds are said to attract the spirits of the dead. Trails of marigolds lead like runway lights to guide spirits home back to their loved ones. Yellow is the most visible color on the altars decorated with bright marigold flowers (cempasúchil, see photo).Ī symbolic buffet of favorite food and drinks serves the deceased. The living shower the deceased with food and presents and decorate the graves and recount their stories of their loved ones. There is an abundance of food and drink, the favorites of the deceased.įamily altars are vibrant and showcase the love for deceased. Love rules the holiday as families believe that the souls of the departed return to visit living relatives. This is a celebration with the dead, not of the dead. The dead are not remembered or commemorated. For many Mexicans - and particularly Oaxacans - Day of the Dead is the favorite holiday of the year, easily surpassing Christmas. ![]() ![]() While the days are the anchor of the holiday, the month before preparations begin as the rural fields blossom into flowers to be used on the altars.ĭay of the Dead is literally a world away from Halloween and has more in common with the celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada and the USA. Well known are festivities in Oaxaca, Michoacán, and Mexico City. Mexico may have the most spectacular festivals in the hemisphere. It is a whimsical and yet serious holiday that takes place between October 31st and November 2nd. Photo: Boris’ altar (Some rights reserved)ĭía de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated throughout the Americas and combines ancient Indigenous traditions and modern fanfare.
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