A holiday where you remember your loved ones that have passed is The Day of the Dead. The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and many other parts of Latin America. Traditionally, the Day of the Dead only lasts up to two days.
November 1st and 2nd is when people take time to remember their loved ones that have passed away. People do many different things to remember and honor their loved ones.
It is interesting to see the different ways people honor their loved ones because they can all be unique in their own ways.
The Significance
The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a time where families take time to honor and remember their deceased loved ones. Families take time to remember all the different kinds of memories with their loved one that passed. Many families also believe that during these days of November 1st and 2nd the souls of the deceased loved ones come back to visit their families.
This holiday shows us the importance of honoring our loved ones even still the ones that have passed.
Symbols
Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are flowers that are used as decorations on the altars. They are bright orange and yellow flowers. The flowers have a very strong scent.
People believe the bright colors and strong scent attract the souls of the dead. Often the flowers are scattered all over the floor. They also are used as paths that lead to the altar.
Sugar skulls, or calaveras de azucar, are skulls used for decoration and they are made of sugar or chocolate. They are decorated with icing and beads. Sugar skulls symbolize the deceased.
Traditions
Many different families do a certain tradition to honor their loved ones that have passed away. Altars, or ofrendas, are set up during November 1st and 2nd. Altars are usually set up at home and are used to honor deceased loved ones.
Usually you set up a picture of the loved one and you can put personal items , food, drinks, or just anything that they used to love. Families decorate their altar with marigold flowers and candles to make it look nice. The purpose of altars is to help welcome back the spirits of the dead back to the world of the living for a reunion with their family.
Traditional Foods
There is a traditional food that goes by the name of bread of the dead, or pan de muerto. The bread of the dead is a special bread that is made for the holiday. The bread can come in different bone-like designs.
It’s more common that the bread of the dead comes in a skull design. Families also make the favorite food of their deceased loved ones. They do it to remember their loved ones. Families believe that the souls of their deceased loved ones consume the aroma of the food.
Summary
The Day of the Dead is a time to remember the memories of your deceased loved ones. Families also get to share stories of the loved ones that the future generations never got to see. It’s also just a good time to spend more time with your family and friends. The holiday is not just about mourning deceased family members but also to celebrate life and death.
The Day of the Dead honors and celebrates the deceased which keeps their spirits alive in the hearts of the living.