Dia De Los Muertios

Dia De Los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos or the day of the dead. Is a holiday honoring family and friends who have passed away, it is celebrated on November 1 and November 2 in Mexico and throughout Latin America. One of the most important traditions is the set up of an altar in memory of the dead family member or friend where the four elements of fire or candels, wind, water, fire and earth (flowers) are represented. The offerings might include the favorite food of the dead, bread, fruit or pumpkin. Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition began.

Dia de los Muertos honors those who have passed away with festivals and lively celebrations, a Latin American custom that combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism, brought to the region by the Spanish. The day of the dead is celebrated on All Saints Day a small holiday in the Catholic calendar.

Knowing that the dead would be upset by mourning or sadness, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with drinks, food and parties also activities the deceased enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos shows death as a natural part of the human life cycle with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a giving member of the community. On The day of

the dead the deceased are also a part of the community, woke up from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.
The mainly known symbol of Dia de los Muertos can be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which show up everywhere during the holiday: as parade masks, in candied sweets, as dolls.

Skeletons and skulls are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in entertaining situations or fancy clothes. Calaveras (skulls) are short poems mocking commemoration of friends, describing habits and attitudes or funny incidents. This custom originated in the 18th or 19th century. The literature skulls originated in the 19th century as a form of showing of important politicians and personalities of the time. As skeletons they kept their features so they were recognizable. The illustrations included a short commemorance -style

poem.

The sugar skull tradition
Sugar art was brought here by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. The first mention was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made. Mexico, important in sugar production and too poor to buy imported European church decorations, they learned quickly how to make sugar art for their religious festivals. Clay molded sugar angels, sheep and sugar skulls figures go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Sugar skulls represented a soul, that had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the gravestone to honor the return of a specific spirit. Sugar skull art shows the folk art style of smiles, sparkly tin and colorful icing also glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull creators. These amazing artisans are disappearing because of fabricated and imported candy skulls taking their place. Candy skulls are part of the Day of the Dead tradition. Placing the little skulls in the altars as an offering this is a custom from urban areas. Placing traditional dishes celebrates the rural areas the return of the dead.