You have probably heard about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) already. The holiday has gained a lot of attention over the last couple of decades, and since the release of the Disney Pixar film Coco in 2017, it has become even more popular. The celebration takes place just after the American festivity of Halloween, and the closeness in dates, as well as the fact that both involve some use of costumes and skulls, has caused people mix the one with the other. However, in the completely biased opinion of the Mexican-in-chief of the office, Día de los Muertos is 10 million times better!
Here are some facts you should know about Día de los Muertos:
This holiday is celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2. It is also associated elsewhere with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day.
The holiday is a result of Mexico’s mestizaje—the mix between the Spanish and the Indigenous. Throughout three centuries of colonization, the celebration evolved and was transformed by the customs of the different indigenous peoples of Mexico.
Today, Día de los Muertos is seen as a celebration of the dead. The holiday emphasizes remembrance of our loved ones who have already passed away. The living prepare altares or ofrendas (altars) that include photographs, some of the favorite items of the deceased, and traditional items like pan de muerto (bread of the dead), papel picado (perforated paper) and the cempasúchil (marigold) flower.
The word Calavera means skull. In the case of this tradition, the word can mean a couple of different things. On the one hand, short and satirical compositions in verse meant to mock a living person in their imaginary encounter with Death. These are quite the thing in Mexico; magazines and newspapers publish their calaveras, and children participate in school competitions with their own creations. Calavera can also refer to the candy sugar skull that is typical this time of year. They can be used as decoration… or you can simply gobble them up. Careful though, you will have enough sugar for a lifetime, and more!
Miguel & Tania celebrating in the office
I wait all year for my visit to the Mexican bakery in order to get my fix of some pan de muerto. This distinctive bread is round in shape, symbolizing the cycle of life and death. In the center, there is a small circle meant to be the skull and, on the sides, some “bones” of bread. The recipe for this traditional pan dulce (sweet bread) can vary depending on the region where it is made. Personally, I like mine with a hint of orange zest, sugar on top and a cup of Mexican hot chocolate on the side.
In 2008, UNESCO added the holiday of Día de los Muertos to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The holiday is celebrated in different degrees throughout Mexico, and now, due to the presence and influence of Mexican culture, also in the United States. Some cities celebrate it with big and colorful parades that include live music, bike rides and of course, costumes!