Celebrating Dia de los Muertos!

Mesoamerican cultures already had traditions that dialogued closely with the concept of death, like the Aztecs’ concept of Mictlán, its god Mictlantecuhtli and his wife Mictecacihuatl. The Spanish conquistadors' efforts to erradicate these indigenous traditions in the late 15th and early 16th centuries were countered by mesoamerican resistance and endurance that resulted in a syncretic tradition today of celebrating such conversation with death during the Catholic All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). 

Today, people in Mexico and in the diaspora celebrate Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) during these two days, and in the weeks previous, by placing altars in their homes and in public spaces dedicated to both famous and more personal dearly departed people. Altars typically include cempasuchil (marigold) flowers whose scent and bright colors help attract our loved ones’ souls, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), photographs, candles, papel picado (perforated paper), calaveritas de azucar (sugar skulls), incense, and salt. In places like Michoacán, hordes of monarch butterflies can be seen during this season as they migrate back to Mexico from the United States and even Canada. Día de los muertos is a time to remember our loved ones and let them know that they’ll always live in our hearts.