HOW IS DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATED?

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a tradition mainly represented in Mexico. Día de los Muertos has a special significance because it’s the day we remember our deceased loved ones. 

This tradition has its origins in pre-Hispanic times, through ceremonies that were performed for the death of a person. Since before the arrival of the Spanish people, the cult of death was one of the basic elements of our culture, and remains so to this day. The ritual consisted of burying a deceased body in a mat while family members celebrated with the idea of ​​guiding them to their destination. The indigenous vision prevails and implies the temporary return of the souls of the deceased, because there is a belief that they return home to live with their families through the altars placed in their honor. 

In Mexican territories, Día de los Muertos is celebrated with great devotion and certain differences depending on which state or region they are in. However, all the elements that are used to honor the dead are presented in the ofrendas, or altars, for Día de los Muertos. The altars are a colorful ritual that are decorated with sugar skulls, candles, chocolate, amaranth, marigolds, sweet bread (pan de muerto), decorative paper banners (papel picado), photos of all the loved ones who have passed, and some of their favorite objects or dishes. 

Thank you to the Consulate General of Mexico in San José for their contribution to this description. If you want to read more about this tradition, click here.