What is the day of the dead? Is it an origin for Halloween? Should we celebrate it? These are just a few of the questions that are commonly asked of Dia de los Muertos. Pretty much the only thing I knew about about Day of the Dead (before recent years) is that it was celebrated in Mexico and there were lots of decorated skulls involved. I had often heard that our own U.S Halloween traditions had evolved from Day of the Dead. I suppose it depends on what U.S. region you live in whether or not that's true. I live in Alabama and it has only been in the last few years that the sugar skulls have made it mainstream in the Heart of Dixie.
What is the Day of the Dead?
It's a celebration of loved ones who have died. Nov. 1 is a day to celebrate children and November 2 is a day to celebrate adults. The celebration originates in the belief that on these days the spirits of loved ones who have passed on are able to return to earth to visit their families. National Geographic kids goes so far to describe it as a family reunion where dead ancestors are considered the guests of honor. Traditionally altars are prepared with favorite foods and drinks of the deceased. Dia de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated in Mexico, Italy, Spain, South America & the Philippines. It does coincide with All Saints/All Souls day a Catholic Holiday that dates back to the 10 century. I talk a little more in-depth about All Souls Day in my Halloween origins blog. According to Angela Villalba of MexicanSugarSkulls.com it is only in central & southern Mexico where elaborate parties are hosted in cemeteries and the altars are constructed there to honor the dead.
Sugar Skulls
Skulls are a symbol of the Holiday but they are not necessarily meant to be scary. In the 17th century Mexico was abundant in sugar production, it was Italian Missionaries who began to teach Mexican natives about sugar art. They incorporated this sugar art into their own religious celebrations. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul and a name was placed on the forehead to honor a particular spirit. Chocolate skulls and candy skulls have gained in popularity which has inadvertently reduced the number of true sugar skull artists. Today you not only see skulls represented in candy but worn as elaborate masks and face paint.
My sister-in-law, Yesenia, has created her own amazing skull face art. This was from her baby shower a few weeks ago which had a Halloween theme. She's also a true make-up artist so this isn't her only masterpiece.
Day of the Dead v. Halloween
The difference in the development of Halloween in the (eastern) U.S. and Day of the Dead seems to be associated with the pattern of pilgrimage out of Europe. Settlers who moved to the U.S. were generally trying to escape Catholicism to be able to freely practice their protestant religion. So when pieces of European Halloween made it's way to America there was a deliberate dissociation with the Catholic aspects and a focus was put on fun parties as opposed to it being a religious tradition. When Spain invaded Mexico Dia de los Muertos was fused with All Souls Day. Eventually Mexico as a country accepted Catholicism and the celebration retained it's religious origins.
Dia de los Muertos Today
In recent years the fusion between Halloween and Day of the Dead has reached new heights. Dia de los Muertos products are sold in Party City & Spirit Halloween stores as well as Walmart, Target & the list goes on. There are Day of the Dead celebrations held all over Los Angeles and while some have been going on for the last 18 years it is only in recent years that it has been pulled into the commercialism that is Halloween. While American celebrations seem to be concentrated in the South Western United States Dia de los Muertos has definitely made it's mark on the U.S. and continues to spread. The LA Times asserts that part of this rise in popularity could be due to the 2015 James Bond movie "Spectre" that featured a Dia de los Muertos parade in Mexico city. This year with the release of Disney Pixar's "Coco" one can only expect it to become more mainstream in the future.
Information was gathered from the following sites:
You will also find these hyperlinked throughout the post.
