The Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos, is an ancient festivity that has been transformed through out the years, and was intended for pre-Hispanic Mexico. It is a time when families remember their dead and the continuity of life. This festival is considered to many to be the most important holiday of the year in Mexico.
Originally it was celebrated at the end of July and the beginning of August in the Aztec calendar, but the it changed and was moved by the Spanish priest so it can go along with the Spanish Christian holiday All Hollows Eve. The result is that Mexicans now celebrate the holiday on the first and second of November, rather than the beginning of summer. The Mexican tradition is still celebrated by the Mexican blend of ancient things as well as Christian features. .
The day of the dead is a time when families visit graves of their close family members. They clean up the gravesites and decorate them with bright flowers. They set out food and have a picnic in the cemetery. They also get together to visit with one another. Whether it be a family member they are visiting with or a member of the community who is out there visiting a grave site for the same reasons. They remember their loved ones by telling stories about them.
This may be a strange thing to do for many but it is not morbid, it is a time of happiness, remembering, and much feasting. Special foods such as candy, breads, and buns, they are often baked in the shapes of skulls with icing. The use of puppets and masks are very popular as well. The belief that family members who have died will return to their gravesite that is why the flowers and gifts are placed there.
The warm social environment the colorful setting, and the abundance of food, drinks and good company are the ceremony of the dead. It has pleasant overtones for most observers.
In the United Stated, celebrating the Day of the Dead is becoming more popular and respected.
