Day of the Dead
day dead spanish el día de muertos el día de los muertos holiday traditionally celebrated november though day october november may included depending locality multiday holiday involves family friend gathering pay respect remember friend family member died celebration take humorous tone celebrant remember amusing event anecdote departed widely observed mexico largely developed also observed place especially people mexican heritage observance fall christian period allhallowtide argue indigenous mexican ancient aztec influence account custom become way remember forebear mexican culture day dead largely seen festive characteristic tradition connected holiday include honoring deceased using calaveras marigold flower known cempazúchitl building home altar called ofrendas favorite food beverage departed visiting graf item gift deceased celebration solely focused dead also common give gift friend candy sugar skull share traditional pan de muerto family friend write lighthearted often irreverent verse form mock epitaph dedicated living friend acquaintance literary form known calaveras literarias tradition inscribed representative list intangible cultural heritage humanity unesco mexican academic divided whether festivity genuine indigenous prehispanic root whether thcentury rebranded version spanish tradition developed presidency lázaro cárdenas encourage mexican nationalism aztec identity festivity become national symbol recent decade taught nation school system asserting native origin tradition inscribed representative list intangible cultural heritage humanity unesco view differ whether festivity indigenous prehispanic root whether modern adaptation existing european tradition combination manifestation syncretism beginning christian observance allhallowtide including saint day vigil well soul day observed day place like spain southern europe elsewhere christendom critic native american origin claim even though precolumbian mexico tradition honored dead current depiction festivity common european tradition danse macabre allegory life death personified human skeleton remind ephemeral nature life past decade however mexican academia increasingly questioned validity assumption even going far calling politically motivated fabrication historian elsa malvido researcher mexican instituto nacional de antropología e historia inah national institute anthropology history founder institute taller de estudios sobre la muerte workshop study death first context wider research mexican attitude death disease across century malvido completely discard native even syncretic origin arguing tradition fully traced medieval europe highlight existence similar tradition day spain rest catholic southern europe latin america altar dead sweet shape skull bread shape bone agustin sanchez gonzalez similar view article published inahs bimonthly journal arqueología mexicana gonzalez state even though indigenous narrative became hegemonic spirit festivity far common european tradition danse macabre allegory life death personified human skeleton remind u ephemeral nature life also highlight thcentury press little mention day dead sense know today long procession cemetery sometimes ending drunkenness elsa malvido also point recent origin tradition velar staying night dead resulted reform law presidency benito juarez forced family pantheon church civil cemetery requiring rich family servant guard family possession displayed altar historian ricardo pérez montfort demonstrated ideology known indigenismo became closely linked postrevolutionary official project whereas hispanismo identified conservative political stance exclusive nationalism began displace cultural perspective point aztec god quetzalcoatl officially promoted government substitute spanish three king tradition person dressed deity offering gift poor child context day dead began officially isolated catholic church leftist government lázaro cárdenas motivated indigenismo leftleaning anticlericalism malvido go far calling festivity cardenist invention whereby catholic element removed emphasis laid indigenous iconography focus death malvido considers cultural invention according mexican venerate death gonzalez explains mexican nationalism developed diverse cultural expression seal tradition essentially social construct eventually developed ancestral tone one would catholic día de muertos th century appropriated element ancient pagan rite one key element redeveloped festivity appears time la calavera catrina mexican lithographer josé guadalupe posada according gonzalez posada portrayed current time restorer mexico prehispanic tradition never interested native american culture history posada predominantly interested drawing scary image far closer european renaissance horror painted francisco de goya spanish war independence napoleon mexica tzompantli recent transatlantic connection also observed pervasive use couplet allegory death play juan tenorio thcentury spanish writer josé zorrilla represented date spain mexico since early th century due ghostly apparition cemetery scene opposing view assert despite obvious european influence exists proof precolumbian festivity similar spirit aztec people least six celebration year similar day dead closest one quecholli celebration honored mixcóatl god war celebrated october november celebration included element placement altar food tamale near burying ground warrior help journey afterlife influential mexican poet nobel prize laureate octavio paz strongly supported syncretic view día de muertos tradition continuity ancient aztec festival celebrating death evident chapter saint day dead booklength essay labyrinth solitude ruben c cordova emphasizes zeal spanish attempted extinguish indigenous religious belief practice often difficult reconstruct main feature time indigenous convert became extremely devout catholic mexico modernized traditional practice spanish brought america survived robustly rural less affluent community high concentration indigenous mestizo population thus archaic spanish religious practice marginal area came mistakenly regarded pure core primarily indigenous day dead festivity aztec devoted two twentyday month ritual calendar dead ninth tenth month child adult respectively cordova argues recollection festival compressed two day cryptically celebrated within catholic liturgical calendar mexico unlike latin american country day dead tradition — saint day dedicated child soul day dedicated adult also note object stone skull carved aztec would different meaning different religious context aztec bones—and skull particular—were reservoir enormous sacred power stone skull could evoke sacrifice skull rack skull sacrificed captive displayed spanish could take aztec skull repurpose placing holy water font cross cemetery whereby would transformed memento mori regardless origin festivity become national symbol mexico taught nation school system typically asserting native origin also school holiday nationwide number mexico city museum public space played important part developing promoting urban day dead tradition altar installation notable organization include anahuacalli frida kahlo museum museum popular culture dolores olmedo museum museum first printing press cloister sor juana turn millennium imposition james bondinspired parade remarkable largescale installation created zocalo mexico city central square día de muertos tradition build private altar ofrendas containing favorite food beverage well photo memorabilia departed intent encourage visit soul soul hear prayer word living directed altar often placed home public space school library also common people go cemetery place altar next tomb departed plan day made throughout year including gathering good offered dead threeday period family usually clean decorate graf visit cemetery loved one buried decorate graf ofrendas altar often include orange mexican marigold tagetes erecta called cempasúchil originally named cempōhualxōchitl nāhuatl twenty flower modern mexico marigold sometimes called flor de muerto flower dead flower thought attract soul dead offering also believed bright petal strong scent guide soul cemetery family home common name english marigold derived mary gold name first applied similar plant native europe calendula officinalis toy brought dead child los angelitos little angel bottle tequila mezcal pulque jar atole adult family also offer trinket deceased favorite candy grave family ofrendas home usually food candied pumpkin pan de muerto bread dead sugar skull beverage atole ofrendas left home welcoming gesture deceased people believe spirit dead eat spiritual essence ofrendas food though celebrator eat food festivity believe lack nutritional value pillow blanket left deceased rest long journey part mexico town mixquic pátzcuaro janitzio people spend night beside graf relative many place people picnic grave site well family build altar small shrine home sometimes feature christian cross statue picture blessed virgin mary picture deceased relative people score candle ofrenda traditionally family spend time around altar praying telling anecdote deceased location celebrant wear shell clothing dance noise wake dead also dress deceased food day dead festivity food eaten living people given spirit departed ancestor ofrendas offering tamale one common dish prepared day purpose pan de muerto calaveras associated specifically day dead pan de muerto type sweet roll shaped like bun topped sugar often decorated boneshaped piece pastry calaveras sugar skull display colorful design represent vitality individual personality departed addition food drink also important tradition day dead historically main alcoholic drink pulque today family commonly drink favorite beverage deceased ancestor drink associated holiday atole champurrado warm thick nonalcoholic masa drink agua de jamaica water hibiscus popular herbal tea made flower leaf jamaican hibiscus plant hibiscus sabdariffa known flor de jamaica mexico served cold quite sweet lot ice rubyred beverage also known hibiscus tea englishspeaking country yucatán peninsula mukbil pollo píib chicken traditionally prepared october november eaten family throughout following day similar big tamale composed masa pork lard stuffed pork chicken tomato garlic pepper onion epazote achiote spice stuffed mukbil pollo bathed kool sauce made meat broth habanero chili corn masa covered banana leaf steamed underground oven course several hour cooked dug opened eat common symbol holiday skull spanish calavera celebrant represent mask called calacas colloquial term skeleton food chocolate sugar skull inscribed name recipient forehead sugar skull given gift living dead holiday food include pan de muerto sweet egg bread made various shape plain round skull often decorated white frosting look like twisted bone part country especially larger city child costume roam street knocking people door calaverita small gift candy money also ask passersby custom similar halloween trickortreating united state without component mischief homeowner treat given distinctive literary form exists within holiday people write short poem traditional rhyming verse called calaveras literarias lit literary skull mocking lighthearted epitaph mostly dedicated friend classmate coworkers family member living dead also public historical figure describing interesting habit attitude well comedic absurd anecdote use deathrelated imagery includes limited cemetery skull grim reaper situation dedicatee encounter death custom originated th th century newspaper published poem narrating dream cemetery future included word u dead proceeding read tombstone current newspaper dedicate calaveras literarias public figure cartoon skeleton style famous calaveras josé guadalupe posada mexican illustrator modern mexico calaveras literarias staple holiday many institution organization example public school student encouraged required write part language class posadas famous print la calavera catrina elegant skull likely intended criticism mexican upperclass woman imitated european fashion first published posthumously broadside text posada mocked workingclass vendor chickpea posadas image skeletal figure big hat decorated two ostrich feather flower elaborated full scale figure mexican muralist diego rivera fresco painted – rivera catrina simple tehuana dress feather boa well feature make allusion indigenous people mexico addition indigenous feature rivera rehabilitated catrina nationalist emblem catrina character become deeply associated day dead catrina figure made wide range material well people catrina costume come play prominent role modern day dead observance mexico elsewhere catrina phenomenon fact gone beyond day dead resulting nonseasonal even permanent catrinas including covid mask tattoo permanently decorated car catrinathemed artwork artist even developed subspecialization catrina imagery theatrical presentation juan tenorio josé zorrilla – also traditional day tradition activity take place celebration day dead universal often varying town town example town pátzcuaro lago de pátzcuaro michoacán tradition different deceased child rather adult november year child death godparent set table parent home sweet fruit pan de muerto cross rosary used ask virgin mary pray candle meant celebrate child life respect appreciation parent also dancing colorful costume often skullshaped mask devil mask plaza garden town midnight november people light candle ride winged boat called mariposa butterfly janitzio island middle lake cemetery honor celebrate life dead contrast town ocotepec north cuernavaca state morelos open door visitor exchange veladoras small wax candle show respect recently deceased return visitor receive tamale atole done owner house someone household died previous year many people surrounding area arrive early eat free enjoy elaborate altar set receive visitor another peculiar tradition involving child la danza de los viejitos dance old men boy young men dressed like grandfather crouch jump energetic dance james bond film spectre opening sequence feature day dead parade mexico city time parade took place mexico city one year later due interest film government desire promote mexican culture federal local authority decided organize actual día de muertos parade paseo de la reforma centro historico october attended people could seen example pizza effect idea massive celebration also popularized disney pixar movie coco united state many community united state mexican resident day dead celebration similar held mexico community state texas new mexico arizona celebration tend mostly traditional soul procession annual event since tucson arizona event combine element traditional day dead celebration pagan harvest festival people wearing mask carry sign honoring dead urn people place slip paper prayer burned likewise old town san diego california annually host traditional twoday celebration culminating candlelight procession historic el campo santo cemetery festival also held annually historic forest hill cemetery boston jamaica plain neighborhood sponsored forest hill educational trust folkloric performance group la piñata day dead festivity celebrated cycle life death people brought offering flower photo memento food departed loved one placed elaborately colorfully decorated altar program traditional music dance also accompanied community event jamaica plain celebration discontinued smithsonian institution collaboration university texas el paso second life created smithsonian latino virtual museum accompanying multimedia ebook día de los muertos day dead project website contains text image explain origin customary core practice related day dead background belief offrenda special altar commemorating one deceased loved one made itunes multimedia ebook version provides additional content detail additional photo gallery popup profile influential latino artist cultural figure decade video clip interview artist make día de muertosthemed artwork explanation performance aztec traditional dance animation short explains custom child virtual poetry reading english spanish bidenharris administration celebrated día de muertos california santa ana california said hold largest event southern california honoring día de muertos called annual noche de altares began celebration day dead santa ana grown two large event creation event held santa ana regional transportation center first time november community interaction mexican tradition american culture resulting celebration mexican tradition extended make artistic sometimes political statement example los angeles california self help graphic art mexicanamerican cultural center present annual day dead celebration includes traditional political element altar honor victim iraq war highlighting high casualty rate among latino soldier updated intercultural version day dead also evolving hollywood forever cemetery mixture native californian art mexican tradition hollywood hip conventional altar set side side altar jayne mansfield johnny ramone colorful native dancer music intermix performance artist sly prankster play traditional theme similar traditional intercultural updating mexican celebration held san francisco example galería de la raza somarts cultural center mission cultural center de young museum altar garfield square marigold project oakland home corazon del pueblo fruitvale district corazon del pueblo shop offering handcrafted mexican gift museum devoted day dead artifact also fruitvale district oakland serf hub día de muertos annual festival occurs last weekend october mix several mexican tradition come together traditional aztec dancer regional mexican music mexican artisan celebrate day san diego california city border mexico celebration range across entire county way northern part county oceanside celebrates annual event includes community family altar built around oceanside civic center pier view way well event mission san luis rey de francia central area san diego city height celebrates public festival jeremy henwood memorial park includes least altar lowriders entertainment free chula vista celebrate tradition movie night third davidson street screening coco movie night also consists community altar altar contest catrincatrina contest well lot music food vendor overall san diego booming colorful celebration honoring ancestor across county italy november soul day colloquially known day dead giorno dei morti many regional nuance exist celebration generally consist placing flower cemetery family burial site speaking deceased relative tradition also include lighting red candle lumino window sill sunset laying table food deceased relative come visit like day dead tradition around world giorno dei morti day dedicated honoring life died additionally tradition teach child afraid death sicily family celebrate longheld day dead tradition called festival dead festa dei morti eve november la festa di ognissanti saint day older family member act defunti spirit deceased family member sneak home hide sweet gift young descendant awake morning november child begin day hunting find gift shoe special wicker basket dead called cannistru dei morti u cannistru typically consist various sweet small toy bonedshaped almond flavored cooky called os dei morti sugar doll called pupi di zucchero fruit vegetable ghoul shaped marzipan treat called frutta martorana pupi di zucchero thought arabic cultural import often found shape folkloric character represent humanized version soul dead eating sugar doll reflects idea individual absorbing dead bringing dead back life within november gift shared breakfast enjoyed whole family often visit cemetery burial site bearing flower light candle play amongst graf thank deceased gift enjoying hearty feast tradition hold spirit deceased remain family enjoy day feasting merriment acclaimed sicilian author andrea camilleri recount giorno dei morti experience boy well negative cultural impact wwii era american influence longheld tradition every sicilian house little boy populated dead familiar ghost white linzòlo scrunch chain mind frightening seen photograph exhibited living room worn occasional half smile printed face good ironed dress workmanlike manner made difference living nicareddri going bed put wicker basket bed size varied according money family night dear dead would fill sweet gift would find nd morning upon awakening restless sleep woke dawn go hunting… dead wanted play u give u fun therefore didnt put basket back found went hide carefully look it… toy tin train wooden toy car rag doll wooden cube formed landscapes… november nd returned visit dead paid u day ritual affectionate custom american soldier christmas tree arrived slowly year year dead lost way house waiting happy awake end child child children… pity lost possibility touching materially thread bind personal history preceded us… food play important part italy day dead tradition various regional treat used offering dead journey afterlife tuscany milan pane dei morti bread dead said characteristic offering northern apulia wheat growing region sweet dish day dead colva grain dead fave dei morti fava bean dead another dish day found widespread italy os dei morti suitably elongated frosted bone dead sweet found apulia sicily sicily family enjoy special day dead cake cooky made symbolic shape skull finger bone sweet dead marzipan treat called frutta martorana night november sicilian parent grandparent traditionally buy frutta di martorana gift child november addition visiting family member people pay respect without family italian take upon adopt centuriesold unclaimed body give offering like money jewelry way ease pain ask favor mexicanstyle day dead celebration occur major city australia fiji indonesia organized mexican community additionally independent annual celebration held wellington new zealand complete altar celebrating deceased flower gift philippine undás araw ng mga yumao saint day soul day celebrated following roman catholic tradition filipino traditionally observe day visiting family dead clean repair tomb done mexico offering prayer flower candle even food chinese filipino additionally burn joss stick joss paper kim many also spend day ensuing night holding reunion cemetery feast merriment due cultural connection philippine mexico link going back spanish empire share aspect practice done celebration part promotion mexican embassy prague czech republic since late th century local citizen join mexicanstyle day dead theater group conduct event involving candle mask makeup using luminous paint form sugar skull belize belize day dead practiced people yucatec maya ethnicity celebration known hanal pixan mean food soul language altar constructed decorated food drink candy candle put bolivia día de la ñatitas day skull festival celebrated la paz bolivia beginning november celebration saint precolumbian time indigenous andeans tradition sharing day bone ancestor third year burial today family keep skull ritual traditionally skull family member kept home watch family protect year november family crown skull fresh flower sometimes also dressing various garment making offering cigarette coca leaf alcohol various item thanks year protection skull also sometimes taken central cemetery la paz special mass blessing brazil brazilian public holiday dia de finados dia do mortos dia do fiéis defuntos portuguese day dead day faithful deceased celebrated november similar day dead celebration people go cemetery church flower candle offer prayer celebration intended positive honoring dead memorializing dead draw indigenous european catholic origin costa rica costa rica celebrates día de los muertos november day also called día de todos santos saint day día de todos almas soul day catholic mass celebrated people visit loved one graf decorate flower candle ecuador ecuador day dead observed extent part society though especially important indigenous kichwa people make estimated quarter population indigena family gather together community cemetery offering food daylong remembrance ancestor lost loved one ceremonial food include colada morada spiced fruit porridge derives deep purple color andean blackberry purple maize typically consumed guaguas de pan bread shaped like infant generally people though variation include many pigs—the latter traditional city loja bread wheat flourbased today made masa precolumbian era made savory cheese inside sweet filling guava paste tradition permeated mainstream society well food establishment add colada morada guaguas de pan menu season many nonindigenous ecuadorian visit graf deceased cleaning bringing flower preparing traditional food guatemala guatemalan celebration day dead november highlighted construction flying giant kite customary fly kite help spirit find way back earth kite note dead attached string kite kite used kind telecommunication heaven big event also consumption fiambre made day year addition traditional visit grave site ancestor tomb graf decorated flower candle food dead town guatemalan repair repaint cemetery vibrant color bring cemetery life fix thing gotten damaged year simply need touchup wooden grave cross marker also lay flower wreath graf family picnic cemetery peru common peruvian visit cemetery play music bring flower decorate graf dead relative southern italy sicily traditional biscottitype cookie os di morto bone dead made placed shoe worn dead relative andrade mary j day dead passion life – día de los muertos pasión por la vida la oferta publishing isbn anguiano mariana et al la tradiciones de día de muertos en méxico mexico city brandes stanley sugar colonialism death origin mexico day dead comparative study society history – doi scid brandes stanley day dead halloween quest mexican national identity journal american folklore – doi jstor brandes stanley iconography mexico day dead ethnohistory duke university press – doi jstor brandes stanley skull living bread dead blackwell publishing p isbn cadafalch antoni day dead korero book isbn carmichael elizabeth sayer chloe skeleton feast day dead mexico great britain bath press isbn conklin paul death take holiday u catholic – cordova ruben c calaveras ilan stavans edinchief harold augenbraum assoc ed encyclopedia latina history culture society united state danbury ct grolier academic reference vols – cordova ruben c posada josé guadalupe ilan stavans edinchief harold augenbraum assoc ed encyclopedia latina history culture society united state danbury ct grolier academic reference vols ii – cordova ruben c day dead indigenous catholic friar durán sahagún v wikipedia glasstire october cordova ruben c josé guadalupe posada diego rivera fashion catrina sellout national icon back glasstire november cordova ruben c guide day dead mexico city glasstire november cordova ruben c day dead art san antonio tx city san antonio department art culture centro de artes httpswwwgetcreativesanantoniocomportalsfilesdodcatalgoguedigitalpdf cordova ruben c brief history day dead san antonio report november cordova ruben c catrina mania glasstire november cordova ruben c catrina mania iii glasstire november cordova ruben c catrina mania iv brandon maldonados catrinas glasstire october garciarivera alex death take holiday u catholic haley shawn fukuda curt day dead two world meet oaxaca berhahn book isbn lane sarah marilyn turkovich días de los muertosdays dead chicago lomnitz claudio death idea mexico zone book isbn matos moctezuma eduardo et al miccahuitl el culto la muerte special issue artes de méxico nutini hugo g todos santos rural tlaxcala syncretic expressive symbolic analysis cult dead princeton oliver vega beatriz et al day dead mexican tradition mexico city roy ann crack world commonwealth –