Part of a Culture
The Day of the Dead most well know as (El Dia de los Muertos). Is celebrated on November 1 and ends on the 2nd, but many start the celebration early and others as early as October. This tradition forms part of a Mexican culture in which family and friends come together to remember and honor those who have passed away. This symbolic event welcomes back the spirits of the deceased and makes those who have passed the gust of honors in a big celebration.
Additionally, this tradition includes sharing meals with the deceased as one would when they were alive. It also involves music, decoration, offerings, photos, tokens of the dead, special attire, makeup and many more things. Every detail of this celebration is intended to honor and remember those who have passed away, in the most beautiful and special way possible.
The meaning of this tradition and culture is not to celebrate the dead, on the contrary, it is to celebrate life. This is because those who honor this tradition believe that a new life and a new journey comes after someone has passed away. For this reason the Day of the Dead is a very vivid tradition.
The Heritage of the Offerings
Furthermore, this celebration is full of memories, appreciation and gratitude. The objects and decorations in this celebration symbolize something and mean something to everyone, both the living and the dead. The main peace and center of attention of this tradition, as mentioned before, is the offering. The offering (ofrenda) is consider to represent the elements of life: water, wind, fire and earth. The following are some of the objects you can find in the offering and what they stand for:
- Water. The water is typically served in a clay pitcher or glass, this is done to quenched the spirits thirst from their long journey.
- The fire can be found throughout the candles that are lit around the altar
- The wind is represented by the papel picado (tissue paper cut-outs)
- The food, usually pan de muerto (bread of dead) symbolize the element of earth
- Also, you can fiend marigolds which are consider to be the ‘flor de muertos’ (flower of the dead)
- Sugar skulls. This skulls are typically decorated with sugar flowers and have the name of someone who has passed engraved in the forehead. This represent dead and the sweetness of life.
The items mentioned above are just a few of the items you can find on the altar. However, we must note that sometimes people decorate their altars a little differently, but the meaning will always be the same.
My Experience of my Heritage
This month I was invited to attend a beautiful Day of the Dead event in Aurora. This event was full of color, traditioned, and symbolism. I had the honor to attend and experienced my same traditioned though someone else. Also, I had the opportunity to see how someone else honors and remembers their families and friends who have passed.
A few of the things I saw throughout the event was a display of cars and motorcycles, beautiful antique cars and colorful motorcycles. The cars where located on one side and the motorcycles on the other. There was also a special motorcycle that was located within the altar, this lead me to believed that this specific motorcycle belonged to someone who is no longer here with us. Throughout the alter you could also see the traditional flowers, candles, photos, skulls and many of the objects mentioned above.
The event also had music, dances, beautiful women that where dress as the catrinas. The catrina symbolizes the dead an the afterlife. There was also food that was giving out to people throughout the event and other people where selling shirts and different artifacts to everyone who wanted to buy something. Overall, the event was amazing, everyone was very welcoming and nice and I had a good time seeing all the beautiful decorations.
The Outcome
Despite the event flowing smoothly most of the time and everyone having a good time for most of the night. At around 8:30 p.m. a few hours before the event was schedule to end the Aurora police arrived at the location. They stated that the reason for their arrival was because of a noise complained called they had received from one of the neighbors because of “loud music.”
Unfortunately, due to these complaints the police decided to close the event and everyone had to leave the location. However, as was to be expected many people were mad about the outcome and did not want the event to end. Many people were angry that they taken hours to arrive at the location and others were angry because they felt the whole situation was unfair.
Despite people’s complaints and arguments the event ended up being terminated and everyone was force to leave. In fact, the numerous more police cars arrived after that and waited until the event was over. Overall, I had a great time throughout the event and I loved seeing how other people honor and celebrated their relatives.
Written By Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
Google Art & Culture: The meaning of the altar
History: Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)
Images Courtesy of Nohemi Sanchez
