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An illustrated guide to Dia de los Muertos

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The often misunderstood Day of the Dead marks the start of the celebrations

Dia de los Muertos is an Aztec tradition honoring the memory of deceased loved ones.

Day of the Dead, also called Dia de los Muertos, is often incorrectly referred to as “Mexican Halloween” due to the year in which it is celebrated and the use of skeletons. Originating in southern Mexico, this three-day Aztec festival in late October honors the memory of deceased family members, friends and even pets.

Popular Day of the Dead symbols appear in late October, including bright paper flowers and face paint. But do you know the different parts of an ofrenda, the traditional altar, or the significance of sugar skulls on Dia de los Muertos?

The Day of the Dead is primarily celebrated in Mexico and Central America and has found its way into several cities in the USA. Read on to learn more about the traditions of this holiday:

Holidays for the Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead celebrations begin on October 31st and end on November 2nd. The combination of indigenous death cult and ritual rites with Catholicism brought it from Europe. The custom of inviting deceased loved ones home for a day is a way to honor their lives and accept what will happen after death.

Traditions of an ofrenda

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Food, flowers and altars are necessary parts of the celebration. To honor the deceased, food such as sugar skulls, sweetbreads and drinks are arranged on ofrendas, or home altars, along with clay ornaments and sentimental items. Whether at the cemetery itself or at a table at home, family members believe their loved ones will enjoy the “essence” of the treats on offer.

What the ofrenda victims symbolize

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Where does the use of skeletons come from?

Skeletons are the most famous representations of the Day of the Dead. Nowadays people dress up in elaborate costumes with skull faces. A playful representation of life after death is a skeleton.

One of the many well-known Day of the Dead depictions, La Calavera Catrina, which translates to “elegant skull,” first appeared in 1910 as a skeletal figure in an elaborate outfit. In Mexico, satirical artist Jose Guadalupe Posada was the first to draw her figure. It should serve as a mocking reminder to those seeking social and political prominence that all humans are, at heart, just bundles of bones.

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Alebrijes: Even the dead need a spiritual guide

Pedro Linares, an artist in Mexico City, introduced the celebration in 1936 with colorful mythical creatures called alebrijes. With their exaggerated bodies with stripes and dots, they are considered creatures from our dreams and the realm of the dead. They are typically made of papier-mâché or wood.

The fundamental meaning of Day of the Dead celebrations has not changed over millennia, despite changing traditions. This holiday serves as an occasion to honor and celebrate those who have departed this life, while also portraying death as an inevitable part of life.

SOURCE DayofheDead.holiday/history, History.com, The University of New Mexico, Britannica.com and USA TODAY research

This story has been updated to add new information, video and clarification.

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