Día De Los Muertos or Day of the Dead, is an annual event celebrated after Halloween, in November. It is an explosion of colour and life-affirming joy. It is widely observed in Mexico as well as in other countries across the globe with varying traditions. Most importantly, it is essential to know that this is not a Mexican version of Halloween. Even though the broader theme of both these holidays is death, Día De Los Muertos is celebrated to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members. Death is a part of our lives and many of us have witnessed someone or another leave us. This is why the Day of the Dead is observed to help the living come to terms with death and loss. This special day is one way of celebrating the ones who passed on.
Along with being a respectful day, it brings forth female power. On this day, women dress up in the most colourful, eye-catching outfits, flaunt their most gorgeous makeup and assemble gorgeous, floral and colourful decorations which often include marigolds. This is meant to respect their female ancestors. Furthermore, people gather at cemeteries to enjoy traditional foods like pan de Muerto (bread of the dead) and Calaveras (sugar skulls). But the tradition that I love the most is the fact that they create beautiful dolls of their ancestors to place at the altar. This is a very special and beautiful holiday where people play songs and dance the nights away.
But these traditions vary from place to place and culture to culture. Check out all the beautiful ways in which countries across the world celebrate this holiday to honour and respect their dead ancestors.
Beautiful Día De Los Muertos Traditions From Around The Globe
1. Ecuador
On November 1, people in Ecuador celebrate El Día de Todos Los Santos, which is a smaller and quieter celebration focusing on children who have passed away. On November 2, they celebrate El Día de Los Difuntos or the Day of the Deceased which is much more upbeat. To celebrate it people gather and reminisce about their dearly departed relatives. They eat and drink and have some special treats in the shape of a baby as well.
2. Philippines
On November 1, people across Philippines celebrate Undás. Families gather around in the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and honour them. They share a meal, create altars, and pray for their dearly departed.
3. Guatemala
Guatemalans celebrates the beautiful Festival de Barriletes Gigantes or Festival of Giant Kites. For this festival, thousands of locals gather to fly enormous, extravagant, multi-coloured kites. Because Indigenous Guatemalans believed that one could use kites to communicate with the dead. They also have a special traditional Guatemalan salad, fiambre prepared for the day.
4. Brazil
Dia de Finados is celebrated on November 2 in this country. It is traditionally more sombre than celebratory but in recent years it has become more common for them to have friends and family over for a meal or enjoy street parties.
5. Peru
Peruvian celebrate El Día de Los Difuntos, which is a two-day event. On November 1, they get together and eat a meal usually made up of the departeds’ favourite foods. And the next day, they visit cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and enjoy music, food and each others loving company.
6. El Salvador
They celebrate La Calabiuza, which is an Indigenous tradition of honouring the dead. It includes dressing up as skeletons or characters from mythology and carrying torches while parading through cities. These parades, music and dance are accompanied by a delicacy made from squash and honey called ayote en miel.
7. Mexico
Here Día de Muertos celebration is the most popular. The first two days of November are dedicated to remembering and celebrating loved ones who have passed on. It also consists of altars, parades, and sugar skulls. It includes setting up altars filled with ‘ofrendas’, like food and pictures of the deceased, to send the souls of the dead back home.
Also Read: Why Do We Celebrate Halloween? Know The Origin Story Of This Day. There’s More To All Hallows’ Eve Than Just Tricking Or Treating!
These are some of the ways the dearly departed are remembered and honoured around the world. One theme which is common in all these different traditions is to honour the dead by feasting together with family and friends, it makes them remember how fleeting life is and how precious these moments are. The Day of the Dead reminds us all to live freely and happily, isn’t that a beautiful thought?