DAY OF THE DEAD - HALLOWEEN
By Rebecca Caven
The history of the Day of the Dead, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in Mexico and Halloween, celebrated on October 31st in the US is a very interesting one. Fascinated by the differing views of death in Mexico and the US, I decided to do a little investigating of my own. What I found was a rich history of integrated traditions from the Celts to the Spanish and the indigenous people of Mexico. The Day of the Dead, celebrated in Mexico and throughout Latin America, is an ancient tradition of remembrance and honoring loved ones who have passed away and at the same time celebrating the continuity of life. It is typically celebrated on Nov. 1st and 2nd. For Mexican families it is a festive time rather than a morbid time. Families unite, trek to the cemetery to visit the graves of their loved ones, tidy up the grave and decorate it with flowers and often proceed to set up a picnic there sharing and conversing with their dead. They remember their ancestors by telling stories. At home, many Mexicans create beautiful alters to honor their dead loved ones which include flowers, food, and even photographs or memorabilia. This is done primarily to honor them and to welcome them (their spirits) back into their home. When the Spanish came to Mexico in the 16th century they discovered the people celebrating a two month long period honoring the dead, the harvest and the new year. The Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl (Lady of the Dead) ruled over the harvest for over 500 years. The indigenous people celebrated by setting bonfires, using costumes, and offering flowers, food and drink. The Church declared November 1st as All Saints Day in the 8th century. This was an attempt to change the ancient Celtic and Druid tradition of celebrating the harvest and New Year on November 1st. The Celts believed that on October 31st, their dead had access to the Earth – a time when the division between the two worlds was diminished. They celebrated by having large bonfires, dancing and burning crops and animals as an offering to the dead. A couple of centuries after declaring Nov. 1st as All Saints Day, the church designated November 2nd as “All Soul’s Day,” another attempt to convert the Celtic tradition. Together, the two days were known as “All-hallowsmas”, and October 31st as “All-Hallowed’s Eve.” Today we know this day as Halloween. Today in the US, people celebrate Halloween by taking their children out all dressed up in costumes around door to door to “trick or treat” for candy. Children usually tell ghost stories and adults throw costume parties. The majority of people no longer connect this celebration to ancient Cetic ones. Where many in the USA represent the dead in the form of a ghost, here in Mexico they use what is known as a “calavera”, or skeleton figure. The calavera figure was created by José Guadalupe Posada. A calavera can appear in paper cuttings, ceramic figures, poems, on alters, costumes or more. So whether you are celebrating the Day of the Dead or Halloween this year appreciate and enjoy the history and traditions. editor@pacificpearl.com

 

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