Celebrating El Día de los Muertos/Day of the dead: Traditions, Rituals, and Foods to Honor Loved Ones

El Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead 

The Day of The Dead is a celebration with ties to Meso-American Culture( Aztec, Mayan, Toltec....)with hints of European and Spanish Culture blended with Christianity. Widely celebrated in Mexico, it is a holiday to remember, honor, and welcome home passed loved ones and Ancestors. Día de los Muertos also falls at the same time of the year as Halloween and Samhain. Coinciding with the thinning of the veil, and the ending of Summer, the Day of the Dead is celebrated between the end of October(27th) and the first week in November. Most notably November 1st. Different families may have their own number of days that they celebrate. The Day of the Dead is a happy and joyful time and the excitement builds as the day the ancestors and loved ones return to visit draws near. Like Samhain, this holiday calls its celebrators to create an Altar to honor and welcome the dearly departed. An Altar for El Día de los Muertos is sometimes called the Ofrenda( offering). The space that will be used for the Altar will be cleaned l lovingly, and Copal or other sacred cleansing herbs may be burned to cleanse the space and the offerings. Placing a cloth down is also common practice, before setting up:

• Photos of Ancestors and passed Loved ones
• Lots and Lots of Marigold Flowers( fresh and sometimes made of paper), in vases, placed directly, in garlands and arches. in Mexico and Central America these flowers will still be blooming because of their warmer climate-in places where they are not available, making paper Marigolds is part of preparing for this holiday. Marigolds have represented the sun since the days of the Ancient Aztec and Meso-American civilizations. Their strong scent and bright orange color is said to guide the spirits of lost loved ones back to their families.
• Pictures of the loved ones whose spirits you are welcoming home
• Monarch butterflies ( the migration to Mexico of the Monarchs coincides with The Day of the Dead, and Monarchs symbolize the return of the souls of those who have passed)
• Food and Drink items that our loved ones enjoyed , so that they feel welcomed as they return.
• Colorful paper banners called papel picado
• Candles-most notable Veladoras- candles that have pictures of saints, as many people of Mexican heritage practice Christianity.
• Water -to quench the spirits' thirst after their long journey home.
• Many Ofrendas also have a Cross to represent the four cardinal directions of North, South, East, and West.
• Xoloitzcuintli statues( Xolo’s-for short) are a hairless dog breed that have been considered sacred since the days of the Ancient Aztecs. They are sacred because they are believed to guide the souls of the dead through the underworld-some people even make Ofrendas to honor their deceased pets, so that they can visit during the thinning of the veil.
• These items represent each Element- Air- papel picado, Water, Earth-food, and Fire-candles.
• Sugar Skulls-skulls made from sugar, wood, carved bone... etc.. painted brightly and beautifully.

During El Día de Los Muertos there are parades and fiestas, music and dancing, children dress up, adults dress up too as Calaveras and Calaveras Catrinas( caricatured,fanciful skeletons, that are truly beautiful).

​Food plays a big role in the Day of the Dead.

• Pan de Muerto-a sweet round bread that symbolizes the deceased. Pieces of dough, shaped like bones, baked on top. They are flavored with Anise and citrus.
• Atole-a corn based drink ( not alcoholic) made with corn flour that the Pan de Muerto is dunked in
• Tamales
• Mole sauces
• Caramel Flan
• Champurado-a drink that dates back to the Ancient Aztec civilization made with Cacao♥ Fresh Fruits

This post was written by Debra Romano, a Herbs Love And Yoga apprentice