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Dia de los Muertos

Alice Koo (G6) Daechi




There are many famous festivals worldwide, such as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). On this holiday, people remember loved ones who have passed away by sharing a meal with close family members. The celebration, Día de los Muertos, starts at noon on November 2nd, which is a day after Día de los Difuntos (Spirits of the Adults). It is a grand finale and a public celebration of Día de los Muertos. In more recent times, people come together in their cities, dress up in Calaveras (decorated skulls), paint their faces like skeletons, and hold parades in the streets. Cemetery visits are also common on the last day, as families go to decorate sugar skulls with the departed’s names on them. It’s customary to clean the grave and restore its colors.


 


Calaveras are ubiquitous during Día de los Muertos. The skulls are often drawn with a smile. They take many forms, such as sugar candies and face painting. Sugar candies are made from sugar and decorated with icing to be fun and colorful, and they taste like sweet candy. Some even have feathers, glitter, hats, or other objects attached to make them more personal. People also paint their faces to look like sugar skulls or wear calavera masks to celebrate the holiday. Sugar skulls are decorated and placed on offerings for loved ones. A calavera is a decorative skull made from either sugar or clay, which is used in the celebration.

 

Families visit cemeteries to decorate the gravesite with marigold flowers, gifts, and more. They decorate with marigolds because it is believed to be the pathway that guides the spirits to their ofrendas (offerings). The flower’s vibrant colors and scent attract the departed souls as they return to feast on their favorite foods. They are called “Flor de Muerto” (Flower of the Dead) and symbolize the beauty and fragility of life. Marigold flowers include around 60 annuals and perennials that are native to Mexico and Central America.


 

Overall, on Día de los Muertos, people come together, dress up in Calaveras, and visit cemeteries to continue the culture of remembering their loved ones. This day showcases Mexico’s unique and rich culture.

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