Mexican culture celebrates Day of the Dead
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007
Two days ago, the American celebration of Halloween focused on ghosts and ghouls and poking fun at those who have gone before us.
Today, the Mexican culture celebrates and honors the deceased in rituals and customs as part of their faith tradition.
Specifically today is El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It is part of a three-day Hispanic celebration, Los Dias de los Muertos, which translates to Days of the Dead, and includes Oct. 31 (Halloween), Nov. 1 (All Saints Day) and Nov. 2 (All Souls Day).
The actual Day of the Dead is the more significant day, considered to be a national day of homage in Mexico to the presence of the dead.
The celebration dates back to the early Indian and Mayan cultures, prior to Christianity being introduced in the land that now encompasses Mexico, explained Helen Lewis, a humanities instructor who teaches mythology at Western Iowa Tech Community College.
"In Mexico, the days would include visiting the cemetery, decorating graves and creating altars in one's home with photos and meaningful items belonging to the loved ones who have died," she said.
Once the "conquistadors" came to Mexico and brought with them Christianity, the days tied into the Roman Catholic holy days of All Saints and All Souls, Lewis said.
"But the belief remained that during this half way point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, the dead had a window in which they could visit the living," she noted. "Death was not an end to an existence, but a gateway to elsewhere, a place where the souls continued to exist, much like the Christian belief in heaven, purgatory and hell."
Although some may consider it irreverent, a significant part of the Day of the Dead is the creation, displaying and sometimes wearing of skeleton masks, an opportunity to "laugh" at death and celebrate the life that person now enjoys with God, said Lewis.
"It again refers back to the Aztecs who used the 'skeleton' approach to mock or scoff at death," she said. "Why? Because death is not scary to them."
With her WIT students, Lewis shows the creations of artist Jose Posada and his "calaveras" or skeletons. The pictures portray death in anything but serious presentations, including dancing, eating and general carousing.
"They aren't even the eerie kind of skeleton we are used to in the Western culture," she said. "It's more of a welcoming approach, allowing us to celebrate the deceased."
Los Dias de los Muertos may be a significant celebration south of the border and in those states adjacent to Mexico, but the tradition is less prevalent in Siouxland. The focus seems to be more on the celebration of Halloween and for Catholics, Nov. 1 as a holy day of obligation.
Martha Nuno of Sioux City recalled growing up in Mexico and her relatives would be part of the celebration of Mass in the local cemetery.
"We cleaned the tombs of our dead relatives and we would buy beautiful flowers, called 'cempasuchil,' to decorate the graves," said the Western Iowa Tech Community College student.
One aspect of the celebration that Nuno recalled was her family would buy "pan de muertos" (bread of dead persons) to put on top of the tombs, in hopes of providing nourishment for those who might return to earth.
Since Nuno, 20, and her family have lived in Sioux City for the past five years, Los Dias de los Muertos, are celebrated in her home with a small altar -- an ofrenda -- that includes the bread, candles, photos and flowers to honor her deceased relatives.
"I'm proud of my family, because although we are not in Mexico, we continue celebrating our traditions," Nuno said. "It's important to celebrate because it is a special day for my dead relatives; it's like an anniversary for them."
Greeting cards
In lecturing to her mythology class at Western Iowa Tech Community College, Helen Lewis passed around Hispanic greeting cards that can be sent to celebrate the Days of the Dead. The following is an English translation of the sentiment inside the card.
In Memory of Our Loved Ones.
With offerings and flowers, we decorate an altar for our loved ones, whom we want to honor today. When visiting their graves, we don't forget to mention how good they were or how much they were loved. May their memory be alive forever.
Today, the Mexican culture celebrates and honors the deceased in rituals and customs as part of their faith tradition.
Specifically today is El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It is part of a three-day Hispanic celebration, Los Dias de los Muertos, which translates to Days of the Dead, and includes Oct. 31 (Halloween), Nov. 1 (All Saints Day) and Nov. 2 (All Souls Day).
The actual Day of the Dead is the more significant day, considered to be a national day of homage in Mexico to the presence of the dead.
The celebration dates back to the early Indian and Mayan cultures, prior to Christianity being introduced in the land that now encompasses Mexico, explained Helen Lewis, a humanities instructor who teaches mythology at Western Iowa Tech Community College.
"In Mexico, the days would include visiting the cemetery, decorating graves and creating altars in one's home with photos and meaningful items belonging to the loved ones who have died," she said.
Once the "conquistadors" came to Mexico and brought with them Christianity, the days tied into the Roman Catholic holy days of All Saints and All Souls, Lewis said.
"But the belief remained that during this half way point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, the dead had a window in which they could visit the living," she noted. "Death was not an end to an existence, but a gateway to elsewhere, a place where the souls continued to exist, much like the Christian belief in heaven, purgatory and hell."
Although some may consider it irreverent, a significant part of the Day of the Dead is the creation, displaying and sometimes wearing of skeleton masks, an opportunity to "laugh" at death and celebrate the life that person now enjoys with God, said Lewis.
"It again refers back to the Aztecs who used the 'skeleton' approach to mock or scoff at death," she said. "Why? Because death is not scary to them."
With her WIT students, Lewis shows the creations of artist Jose Posada and his "calaveras" or skeletons. The pictures portray death in anything but serious presentations, including dancing, eating and general carousing.
"They aren't even the eerie kind of skeleton we are used to in the Western culture," she said. "It's more of a welcoming approach, allowing us to celebrate the deceased."
Los Dias de los Muertos may be a significant celebration south of the border and in those states adjacent to Mexico, but the tradition is less prevalent in Siouxland. The focus seems to be more on the celebration of Halloween and for Catholics, Nov. 1 as a holy day of obligation.
Martha Nuno of Sioux City recalled growing up in Mexico and her relatives would be part of the celebration of Mass in the local cemetery.
"We cleaned the tombs of our dead relatives and we would buy beautiful flowers, called 'cempasuchil,' to decorate the graves," said the Western Iowa Tech Community College student.
One aspect of the celebration that Nuno recalled was her family would buy "pan de muertos" (bread of dead persons) to put on top of the tombs, in hopes of providing nourishment for those who might return to earth.
Since Nuno, 20, and her family have lived in Sioux City for the past five years, Los Dias de los Muertos, are celebrated in her home with a small altar -- an ofrenda -- that includes the bread, candles, photos and flowers to honor her deceased relatives.
"I'm proud of my family, because although we are not in Mexico, we continue celebrating our traditions," Nuno said. "It's important to celebrate because it is a special day for my dead relatives; it's like an anniversary for them."
Greeting cards
In lecturing to her mythology class at Western Iowa Tech Community College, Helen Lewis passed around Hispanic greeting cards that can be sent to celebrate the Days of the Dead. The following is an English translation of the sentiment inside the card.
In Memory of Our Loved Ones.
With offerings and flowers, we decorate an altar for our loved ones, whom we want to honor today. When visiting their graves, we don't forget to mention how good they were or how much they were loved. May their memory be alive forever.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 21 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
james wrote on Nov 5, 2007 5:44 PM:
to morrigan wrote on Nov 4, 2007 9:46 AM:
To USA Steve wrote on Nov 2, 2007 9:49 PM:
RE: USA Steve wrote on Nov 2, 2007 9:45 PM:
Morrigan wrote on Nov 2, 2007 7:58 PM: