A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion, and the Spanish culture, Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is observed by the indigenous communities of Mexico. It commemorates the temporary return of deceased relatives and loved ones to Earth. The celebrations occur in the fall, from the end of October to the beginning of November. This period also marks the completion of the annual cycle of agriculture for corn, the country's predominant food crop.
In contemporary Mexican culture as well as those of Mexican heritage around the world, the day of the dead has roots dating back some 3,000 years to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Colombian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people who lived in central Mexico held a cyclical view of the universe and held the belief that death is a natural part of life. Upon dying, a person is said to travel to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. After completing nine challenging levels and completing an exhausting journey that lasted several years, the soul of the deceased could reach Mictlan, the final resting place.
Families make arrangements to ensure the souls of the deceased return to the Earth. They do this by placing flower petals, candles, and offerings along the path leading from the graveside to their homes. They also prepare the deceased's favorite dishes and place them around the home shrines and the grave along with flowers and traditional handicrafts, such as paper cut-outs. Great care is taken in preparing all aspects of the ritual. This is because it is believed that the dead can bring prosperity or misfortune to their families, depending on how satisfactorily the ritual is executed. The dead are divided into several different categories based on the cause of death, age, sex, and profession, for example. The dead are designated a specific day of worship, determined by these categories.
Day of the Dead celebrations holds a great significance in Mexican indigenous culture. The fusion of pre-Hispanic religious rites and Catholic feasts has brought together two universes, one marked by indigenous beliefs and the other by European worldviews introduced around the sixteenth century. Though the customs and scale of Day of the Dead celebrations have evolved over thousands of years, the heart of the holiday remains the same. It's a time for remembering and celebrating the lives of those who have passed, while reinforcing death in a more positive light, as an integral part of the human experience.
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