Mexican Festivals: Día De Los Muertos
Mexico is a land where a ton of festivals are celebrated. From celebrating taco days to celebrating the dead, Mexicans do it all. El Molcajete takes pride in all the festivals that are celebrated and strives to bring this spirit to America too. Dia De Los Muertos is a festival that celebrates the loss of our loved ones. For many people, the last ritual done for the dead might be the funeral but in mexico a few days every year are dedicated to the loved ones that we lost. During this festival, the boundaries between the living world and the spirit world are dissolved and it is celebrated with great pomp and show. The Mexicans for a couple of days remember and honor the lost lives.
Dia De Los Muertos translating to the Day of the Dead is a festival celebrated from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November. The participants of this holiday welcome back the spirits of the deceased and celebrate their lives. Food and colorful celebrations are involved while celebrating this festival. According to the legend the gates of heaven are open from the 31st midnight and the spirits of the children can rejoin their family for 24 hours and the spirits of the adults can do the same on the 2nd of October.
The origins of this day go back about 3000 years ago to the rituals where the Columbias honored the dead. It was believed that after death the soul traveled to the land of the dead. But to travel to that land a person had to overcome nine obstacles. The practice of leaving food on the grave started to assist the spirits in this difficult journey. During the day of the dead, the soul of the deceased visits their graves, and their family members keep their favorite food and wine to celebrate their life. The altars are decorated with bright yellow flowers and are lit up to guide the spirits to earth. For children, people keep their favorite candies or snacks with pictures to encourage them to visit their graves. Water and salt are also kept along with all the offerings so that the spirits can quench their thirst after a long journey.
Day of the Dead signifies and makes everyone remember the amazing lives of the ones that they have lost. Traditionally, this festival was widely celebrated in the rural parts of mexico but as time passed it gained popularity in the cities too. People view it as a sly medium of connecting with whoever had lost their lives. Though the loss can never be fulfilled during this festival they feel that they have connected with the departed souls from across the heavens. The locals also dress up and eat skull-shaped candies to take part in the festivities.
While the festival is celebrated for thousands of years and its customs continue to evolve, the heart of the festival remains the same. It adds a little bit of a positive approach to the whole idea of losing someone from our lives.
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