What Is Day of the Dead?

- What is Day of the Dead?

Day of the Dead is a Mesoamerican Catholic holiday that honors and remembers the dead and is celebrated mostly in Mexico in places with large indigenous populations (i.e. Oxaca, Michoacan).

- When is it?

It is from October 31st – November 2nd. Souls return for a period of 24-hours. November 1st is for the souls of children and pets who have passed, and November 2nd is for adults.

Sometimes when there is a tragic accident or a violent incident where many people have died, the holiday is extended for several more days.

- Origins

Many cultures around the world celebrate death in late October/early November as it is between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. The Egyptians, the Romans, and the Celts all have holidays that celebrate the dead during this time.

The Aztecs believed that life was a dream, just temporary, and death was more of a transition part of a continuation. In fact, they feared life more than death because of how unsure life is. For funerals, they would bury their dead with food and jewelry so that they could have them with them in the afterlife.

In the early fall, Aztecs celebrated death with flowers, food and, dancing. To welcome returning souls, the Aztecs would prepare a feast that consisted of tamales, tortillas, pumpkins, quail, and rabbits.

When the Spaniards came in the 16th century, they had trouble converting the Aztecs to Catholicism. They also could not stop the Aztecs from celebrating this holiday, so the friars explained their religion by incorporating the Aztec’s ancient religion. Gods eventually became saints and major feasts were turned into holidays while retaining their Mesoamerican traditions. Since Day of the Dead fell closest to the Catholic holiday, All Saints Day, the two religions were combined to create this beautiful holiday.

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