Incredible Día De Los Muertos Photos Show Just How Weird And Wonderful The Celebration Is
November 1 and 2 are dedicated to Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, throughout Latin America. But make no mistake about it, this time-honored festival is completely different from Halloween. Although the iconography of both events includes skeletons and death, Halloween is essentially about being scared, while Día de los Muertos is about celebrating life. And there’s probably far more poignancy behind the incredible costumes of the Day of the Dead than you ever realized…
A Latin American celebration
It’s also worth remembering that while the Day of the Dead certainly comes from — and is most associated with — Mexico, it’s actually honored all over Latin America. And if you’ve ever thought about taking part, you should definitely get to know the lingo. So those ubiquitous multicolored skulls are called calaveras and the skeletons are called calacas. There are plenty of other important things you should know about the tradition, too.
Thousands of years of tradition
The whole point of the Day of the Dead is to remember those who have passed in a celebratory way. That’s because pre-Hispanic civilizations such as the Aztec and the Toltec people thought that grieving for those who’d died was almost insulting. After all, they didn’t consider death as the end of life — only a natural part of it. They believed you’d see your loved ones again, too.
Return to Earth
During the Day of the Dead, then, it’s believed the people who have passed on will once again walk the Earth. This means that those of us lucky enough to still be alive get the chance to see and celebrate our loved ones at this time every year. The dates of the event — November 1 and 2 — also fall on the days that the Catholic calendar records as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively.
The heart of the celebration
One of the most important parts of the Day of the Dead is an altar — or ofrenda. You’ll find these in people’s houses as well as in cemeteries throughout Latin America. But these altars are not for praying at. During Día de los Muertos, people will pile the altars with gifts for those who have made the journey from the afterlife. These items essentially welcome the spirits home.
