Halloween is just around the corner and everyone is excited for it, but The Day of the Dead celebration is approaching as well. What exactly does it represent and how is it celebrated?
It’s October, meaning that there will be a few holidays meaning time out of school. One very interesting one is Dia De Los Muertos or The Day of the Dead. Dia De Los Muertos is a holiday that has been celebrated as far back as 3,000 years. The holiday is about remembering and honoring your loved ones who have passed. It’s so popular that a few children’s films have been made around it, like Coco which you might of heard about or even seen in theatres. Día de los Muertos is a beautiful holiday that is celebrated in dozens of latin american countries, making it a holiday of cultural importance. Here are some things you should know about the holiday.
Altars are a very important part of the holiday, and the center of the altar, the ofrenda, is built in graveyards. They are not meant for worshipping but to welcome the spirits from the other realm. They load the ofrenda with offerings, photos, and greetings for their loved ones. They use petals and flowers to decorate the altar and incense from maple trees and smoke to purify the altar. Another important part of the holiday is skulls, or “Calaveras”,in Spanish. They are used to decorate and poke fun at people who are living and to mock death. These skulls come in many different forms. Humorous poems called calaveras literarias or skull literature are written about deceased loved ones, usually as funny poems or anecdotes. Many during celebrations wear masks or face paint of a smiling skull. Skulls also come in the form of candies, cookies, and clay decorations. These treats are used as gifts for both the living and dead.
a important to Hispanic culture and it should be more appreciated for its cultural significance and meaningful practices. Movies like Coco and The Book of Life have brought new notoriety to this holiday and new books and movies are sure to increase the holidays notoriety much more in the coming years.