Liebe Leserinnen und Leser,
It is almost time for one of my favorite celebration of the year. In Mexico we celebrate the dead, but not in a scary way like in other Countries (USA – Halloween). It is important not to confuse one thing with the other, because they are completely different.
For many generations before the Spanish Colony in the 16th Century, the Pre-Colombian Cultures celebrated the dead in a slightly different way. The origins of this festival came from an ancestry Aztec Goddess Mictecacihuatl. She takes care of the afterlife and her celebration was held in the Summer. When the Colony began, the Spanish mixed this tradition with the Christianity having as El día de los Muertos moved to be celebrated in November 2.
It is a three-day celebration:
It starts with OCT 31, ALL HALLOWS EVE, where the children make a children altar to invite “Los Angelitos” (Spirit of dead children) to come back to visit. This Altar has toys and candies for them.
Nov 01, is ALL SAINTS DAY, where the adult spirits will come to visit.
Nov 02, is ALL SOULS DAY, where families go together to the cemetery to pay Respects by cleaning and decorating the graves of their deceased family members with flowers, candles, food (that they used to like), Sugar Skulls, fruits, incenses, and so on.
During this Month we make Ofrendas, Altares, special food like Atole, Pan de Muerto, Sugar Skulls, Parties, and Parades and so on. Probably you already know this from the movie SPECTRE James Bond 007 where they show a parade in Mexico-City. To be honest it was never held before in the history, but after this movie we have a Mexico City parade for the day of the dead. And I was there to experience it for the first time.
It is a special bond between the live and the dead. It may seem scary and creepy for outsiders, but it a beautiful tradition in order to pay respects and to remember with happiness the life of the ones that will no longer be with us. The people who died are your loved ones, therefore they deserve respect, love and to have them always in our heart and minds.
During the Parties and Parades we dress up like Catrinas and Catrins. These special characters of this holiday were made with “European clothes of that time” and their faces are skulls. Therefore we paint of faces like a skull.
In 2008, this tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
I took this Picture of 2 children dress up like Catrín y Catrína in the Zócalo (center of the city) of the Ciudad de México in Nov 02 2016:
You can watch the Parade made for SPRECTRE 007 in the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUR8Iy6aXcs
Here the REAL PARADE in Mexico City (Completely colorful and Alive!) in the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWwT-r2uBv4
Liebe Grüße aus Mexiko,
Raissa Ruiz
