Families adorning the tombs of their deceased relatives with ofrendas. Credit: Wikipedia.

For many of us, Halloween represents that time of the year when we dress in costumes imitating supernatural beings, go trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, and carve pumpkins to display on our front lawns. Halloween has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions, but it has slowly lost its original significance due to the increasing consumerism surrounding the holiday. Despite this, Halloween has become a special day for many children, and even adults, all over America. To an outsider like me, Halloween reminds me of El dia de los muertos, or the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that parallels Halloween but with very different customs. The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 and 2, with children and adults honored during those days. The holiday originates from ancient Aztec rituals and from beliefs about the fate of the dead. The Aztecs believed that the soul of a deceased was destined to a specific place based on how the person died. For instance, warriors who perished in combat dwelled in Omeyocan, or paradise of the sun, where they would accompany the sun throughout its daily journey. On the other hand, people who died of natural causes were destined to Mictlán, a dark place from which escape was impossible.

After the arrival of the Spanish, Catholic missionaries attempted to eradicate those beliefs. Instead, the indigenous population assimilated the Catholic traditions into their old beliefs. The Day of the Dead is a prime example of Mestizaje, the hybridization of indigenous and Spanish cultures into what constitutes modern Mexican culture. Today, families commemorate their loved ones by visiting the cemeteries where their relatives are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings. Ofrendas are elaborate crowns made of flowers such as roses, but mainly Cempaxóchitl, flower of the dead, which is believed to attract and guide the souls of the dead.

Some families also build altars in their homes to remember their deceased relatives. The altars have a picture of the person being remembered, surrounded by religious artifacts such as crosses and pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Families also place the person’s favorite food and beverages as a welcoming gesture. People believe that on November 2, the spirits of the dead descend down to earth to visit their families. The altar is supposed to guide them through this journey, and the food is left so that the spirits can consume it after their long journey. Even though the food remains physically intact the following day, people believe that it lacks flavor and/or nutritional value, which is taken as a sign of a supernatural visit. For children, relatives will place on the altar toys, alfeñiques, candy made of sugar and lemon juice shaped as skulls, and pan de muerto, bread of the dead, sweet egg-based bread shaped as a bone.

In Mexico, people welcome and accept death, and in certain cases, even worship the dead as a religious saint. Death imagery pervades the holiday emphasizing its significance in Mexican culture and beliefs. To an outsider, Mexicans’ warm welcoming of dead may seem strange and bizarre. Whether it is Halloween or Day of the Dead, it is that time of the year where we, mortals, realize the central role death plays in our lives. And whether we accept or fear death, it is an inevitable part of life, which we may not realize until one of our loved ones departs. However, instead of mourning our loss, we should remember the good moments we shared with them and praise that they lived a good life.