Every beginning of November, Mexico and a large number of cities in Latin America and the United States dress in marigold color, aromas of copal and echoes of guitars that resonate among tombs and streets. And contrary to what most think, the Day of the Dead is not just a commemoration: it is a reunion between worlds.
During this date, which lasts more than a week and ends on November 2, families prepare altars and offerings to receive those who have already left. The house becomes a meeting point where the visible and the invisible coexist: an altar full of lit candles, family portraits, papel picado and bread of the dead.
In every detail there is a message. The water refreshes the soul of the visitor, the salt purifies the path, the incense drives away bad energies and the marigold flower, with its golden tone, guides the return from the beyond.
The arrival of souls: a calendar of remembrance
According to historians and anthropologists, the Day of the Dead has roots that go back to the Mexica, Mayan and Purépecha cultures, civilizations that conceived death as a natural extension of life. With the arrival of Christianity, these beliefs were intertwined with the celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, giving rise to the fusion that today defines Mexican identity.
According to tradition, the souls do not all arrive on the same day. He October 27 expected at petsfaithful life companions. He 28those who died in accidents or suddenly are remembered. He 30 and 31 are dedicated to the forgotten or familyless souls to recelebrate.
He November 1All Saints’ Day, the door opens for the children and the innocent souls; while the November 2Day of the Faithful Dead, is when the adults to visit their old homes. That is why the altars remain lit for several days: they are an open invitation for the soul to find its way and rest for a moment with its loved ones.
The altar: heart of the Day of the Dead
The altar of the dead is much more than a decorated table. It is a symbolic representation of the universe. On its levels, two, three or seven, according to local tradition, the essential elements that guide the transit of the soul are placed. The cross or the image of the saint to whom the family is entrusted is usually placed at the top. In the center, photographs of loved ones. At the base, the foods, drinks and sweets that they enjoyed in life.
He bread of the deadwith its crossed bones shape, reminds us of human fragility; the sugar skulls They represent the duality between life and death; and the candles They symbolize the eternal fire that keeps memory burning. Each altar is a story told in objects, a family story that is renewed year after year.
Beyond Mexico: a celebration that crosses borders
Although the Day of the Dead has its deepest roots in Mexico, its spirit has crossed borders and taken root in Latino communities across the continent. In Guatemalait is celebrated All Hallows with giant kites that rise to the sky to send messages to the dead. In Boliviafamilies prepare tables with bread in the shape of faces called “t’antawawas”. In Perucemeteries are filled with music and meals shared with the deceased.
In USAcities like Los Angeles, San Antonio and Chicago They have adopted the holiday as a symbol of Latin identity. Cultures, languages and generations mix in each public altar. For many migrants, setting up an altar far from home is a way to keep the connection to their roots alive.
Between tradition and modernity
The Day of the Dead has been able to adapt to the passage of time without losing its essence. Today it coexists between the solemnity of the family altar and the artistic expressions that fill the streets: parades, concerts, exhibitions and monumental offerings that attract thousands of visitors every year.
Recognized by the UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008this holiday continues to remind the living that memory is also a way of existence.