By: Julian Reynoso
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is among the list of terribly represented holidays in America. A day riddled with cultural appropriation, misinformation, misunderstandings of what the holiday is about, and an overall lack of genuine appreciation for a beautiful celebration of the dead in an amazing culture.
This is not to say that any of this behavior comes from ill intent to misrepresent Dia de los Muertos. As is the case with Cinco de Mayo, many people in America do not understand the significance behind the holiday or what it is really about.
Too many individuals believe that Dia de los Muertos is related to Halloween or is one day of the year. Both of these are common misconceptions that have spread, again not out of malice, but out of ignorance. It is a two-day holiday on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 where people come together to celebrate and honor those that have passed away.
The first day is dedicated to “los Angelitos” which means the “little angels.” This day celebrates the little ones who have passed away. The second day is what we all know as Dia de los Muertos, which celebrates all of those who have died.
Common celebrations of death we see are people painting “calaveras” (skulls) on their faces and decorating themselves or their houses with “calacas” (a colloquial term for skeletons), but these are not the most important aspect to the holiday. That would be the “ofrendas” (offerings) that are specific items to commemorate deceased loved ones and invite them back to the living world.
Oftentimes, people will put out the favorite foods of their loved ones who passed away. They might also decorate the table with photos and marigolds also known as the “Flor de Muerto” (flowers of the dead) which are believed to guide the dead back from the afterlife with their bright colors and scent. They represent the fragility and beauty of life, and they are very common to see in Mexico, especially during Dia de los Muertos.
If you have seen Disney’s animated film “Coco,” you will probably recognize a lot of what is mentioned here. That film depicts this holiday and its traditions rather well, but it is not perfect and has its own mistakes, such as needing a photo to make sure the dead can come back to the land of the living.
As is the case with any celebration, different places in Mexico have their own traditions that they follow, so there is no one way to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, but the core of the holiday remains the same: to remember our loved ones who have passed away and celebrate them rather than mourning them.
If you would like to learn more about this holiday and culture, go to LUCHA’s Dia de los Muertos event on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. located in Regis. There will be food, ofrendas to make and respect given to the traditions of this cultural holiday.
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