Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life
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A woman dressed as La calavera catrina on day of the dead
For most, a holiday with “dead” in the title would seem morbid. In reality, it’s just the opposite.
Dia de Muertos is a lively and warm celebration of the life of a loved one who has passed away. It’s a day to honour their memory and invite them back home.
One way Dia de Muertos is celebrated is by setting up an ofrenda. The word ofrenda translates to “offering.”
It’s a homemade altar set up in one’s home as a way to pay respects to the dead and invite their soul to come back and visit.
A photo of the deceased is placed on it as well as food and drink they enjoyed while they were alive.
Mexicans believe that the departed souls come back and consume the food to give them strength on their journeys.
a popular offering is pan de muerto or “bread of the dead”
Losing a loved one is the hardest thing we will experience in this life. As time passes and the shock and grief subside, it can be hard to figure out how to move forward.
We want to incorporate the love we still have for them into our lives without allowing the thought of their passing to take up our every moment. Just because they’re gone from the earth doesn’t mean they no longer matter to us.
That’s why the Mexican celebration of Dia de Muertos or “Day of the Dead” has always fascinated me.
For those who have never heard of it, or perhaps aren’t quite sure what it is, Dia de Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd every year.
No, it isn’t the same as Halloween, despite falling at a similar time on the calendar. It isn’t a day for collecting candy or jumping out at your friends with scary masks on.
Rather, it’s a special time to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. In Mexican culture, death is not seen as scary and unnatural, as it often is in the west. It’s seen as an inevitable reality to be accepted as going hand-in-hand with life.
flor de muerto or “flower of the dead”
Another important part of Dia de Muertos is getting together with family to clean and decorate the tombstones of loved ones.
Setting out Flor de Muerto or “flower of the dead” is important as well. These are Mexican marigolds that have a strong scent and bright orange colour, which is thought to help guide the spirits back home.
Perhaps one reason Dia de Muertos is misaligned with Halloween is that many people paint their faces to look like calaveras (skulls).
This isn’t an attempt to scare anyone, as it would be in Canada on October 31st. Instead, it’s to poke fun at mortality and is a recognition that we will all end up that way in the end.
Dia de Muertos is the one time of year where friends and family who have passed on can come back and visit their earthly relatives. It’s a time to remember, celebrate, and honour their lives.
It’s a beautiful celebration and one we can learn many lessons from. Namely—don’t forget those that mattered to you, even once they are no longer with you in the physical form.
You can still laugh, share memories, and connect with others who knew them as a way to keep their memory and spirit alive.
Stacey is a writer who loves learning about cultures, religions, and languages. Even though she has only visited two countries, there are many she would love to explore: Mexico, Australia, Japan, and Ireland are among her top choices. In her free time, Stacey can be found watching old TV shows, practicing languages on Duolingo, and seeking out English bulldogs to pet in the park.
