From aztec goddess worship to modern mexican celebration by kirby farah on the conversation, and had been republished under a creative commons license. It is an ancient and enduring ritual when the living commune with the dead a mystical night when the veil is lifted between their two realms and they may share a day together. They realized that if they were to keep their captured territory, they couldnt do it by destroying the indigenous culture. As every october draws to a close, millions of people in costume celebrate a very special day. The celebration occurs annually on october 31, november 1, and november 2, and is held to honor those who have died. This is more than a book about the reawakenings of old aztec gods wolves perhaps best left sleeping but also a book about despair and heartbreak, and what. Day of the dead is an important mexican holiday that celebrates and honors deceased loved ones. It is a mexican holiday, and is especially celebrated in the central and southern parts of the country. Presgr 2a festive and colorful celebration of the mexican and latin american holiday. The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in mexico on november 1 and 2, is like a family reunionexcept dead ancestors are the guests of honor. While the holiday originated in mexico, it is celebrated all over latin america with colorful calaveras skulls and. The holiday is not a sad one, but rather a lively festival to celebrate those who have died. Similar to the way the pagan holiday samhain was absorbed by christianity, so was the aztec holiday the. I found myself fully encompassed by the world and feeling like i was there.
Before the spanish arrived in what is today mexico, the aztec gave offerings to their deceased ancestors as part of their. The festivals beginnings originate from the combination of aztec and catholic faiths in mexico and it takes place on the 1st and 2nd of november each year. This aztec ritual and commemoration started at least 3,000 years ago. These pages are bright and happy and show that this is a time of celebration and a time to big life, not fear of death. The aztec honored their dead with fiestas and rituals during the harvest season. The aztec empires influence extended throughout presentday mexico and central america, while few native americans of the presentday u. Those early rites took place over the course of an entire month, and honored both the deceased and a goddess known as mictecacihuatl, the lady of the dead. Oct 26, 2012 the following article from gives a general description about the origins of the day of the dead and explains how people celebrate day of the dead in mexico.
Children dress up in costumes and, in the mexican version of trickortreating, go out to pedir muertos ask for the dead. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. Fascinating facts about the day of the dead readers digest. It is also celebrated by those of mexican descent all over the world. It is a festive interaction that embraces the cycle of life. Sep 24, 2015 sugar skulls and fancy dress arent all there is to the day of the dead. The 44yearold spent his early years in manzanillo, colima. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries. The multiday holiday involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and helping support their spiritual journey. Its origins are a mixture of native american traditions and a set of catholic holidays. I like that it is the day after halloween on all saints day to honor the dead. Prior to spanish colonization in the 16th century, the celebration took place at the beginning of summer. In mexico, the celebration is held from october 31 to november 2nd, coinciding with the catholic feast days of all saints and all souls, but the festivals origins are rooted in a unique combination of elements drawn from indigenous beliefs and catholic teachings.
Preclassical history to 600 bce classical history 600 bce600 ce postclassical history 600 ce1492 ce early modern history. Despite its name, the day of the dead is actually 3 days long regardless of where it begins and ends, it is not mexican halloween. Sin jones, mictecacihuatl, santa muerte, 2010, 116. This tradition is celebrated every november 1st and 2nd, dating back as far as 3,000 years. Meaning of the day of the dead new york city day of the. One of the worlds most fascinating landmarks, it is the final resting pla. Much like halloween, the origins of all saints day and all souls day november 1 and 2 lie in the distant past of the indigenous peoples of central and southern mexico. Families create ofrendas offerings to honor their departed family members that have passed. Preclassical history to 600 bce classical history 600 bce600 ce postclassical history 600 ce1492 ce early modern history 14921789. Mesoamerican natives, africanamericans and spanish blend their traditions during the celebration. The names of two consecutive twentyday months on the aztec calendar.
The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in mexico on november 1 and 2, is like a. For more than 500 years, the goddess mictecacihuatl lady of the dead presided over aztec harvest rituals using fires and copal pom incense, costumes of animal skins, images of their dead and offerings of. Traditionally known as catrina makeup, it symbolizes the bonds we maintain with our departed loved. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors had been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2,5003,000 years. It is particularly celebrated in mexico where the day is a public holiday. This article was originally published under the tittle day of the dead. The aztec festival commemorating the dead occupied a full month in the 16month calendar. Not long after the spanish exposure to this festival, the spanish combined the. Marc hors my parents never made an altar while i was growing up, but some of my friends did, said rodriguezsalazar, a conductor, flutist. The people who celebrate this tradition believe that the veil between the living realm and dead realm is lifted and that they can commune.
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