The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a vibrant and deeply meaningful holiday celebrated primarily in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage around the world. But What Is Day Of The Dead truly about? It’s a time not of mourning, but of remembrance and celebration, where the veil between the living and the spirit world thins, allowing families to reconnect with and honor their deceased loved ones. Far from being a somber occasion, it is a festive and colorful celebration of life, memory, and the enduring bonds of family, spanning generations and worlds. The roots of this unique holiday stretch back thousands of years, intertwining ancient indigenous beliefs with later cultural influences to create the rich tapestry of traditions observed today.
Ancient Roots: Echoes of Aztec Rituals
To truly understand what is Day of the Dead, we must journey back nearly 3,000 years to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs, along with other Nahua peoples who inhabited central Mexico, held a cyclical view of the universe. Death wasn’t seen as an end, but rather as an integral and continuous part of the life cycle. This perspective is fundamental to the spirit of Día de los Muertos.
Their beliefs included a complex journey for the soul after death. Upon passing, it was believed that a person embarked on a voyage to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. This was not a simple transition; it involved navigating nine challenging levels, a spiritual odyssey that could take several years to complete. Only after successfully traversing these trials could the soul finally reach Mictlán, the ultimate resting place.
Ancient Nahua rituals, traditionally observed in August, were dedicated to honoring the deceased and aiding them in this arduous journey. Families would provide offerings of food, water, and tools, intended to sustain and assist the departed on their path. This ancient practice is a direct precursor to one of the most recognizable contemporary Day of the Dead customs: the creation of ofrendas. These altars are lovingly constructed in homes and at gravesites, laden with food, beverages, and personal items that the deceased enjoyed in life, serving as both a welcome and sustenance for returning spirits.
The Catholic Influence: All Souls Day and Spanish Traditions
While the heart of Day of the Dead beats with ancient Mesoamerican rhythm, its evolution has been shaped by other cultural currents. In Europe, pre-Christian pagan traditions honoring the dead were also prevalent in the fall, often involving bonfires, dancing, and communal feasts. As the Roman Catholic Church rose to prominence, it strategically incorporated some of these existing customs into its own religious observances. This led to the establishment of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd respectively, dates that now closely align with Day of the Dead.
During the medieval period in Spain, All Souls Day took on particular customs that resonate with modern Día de los Muertos celebrations. People would bring wine and pan de ánimas (spirit bread) to the graves of their loved ones. They also adorned graves with flowers and lit candles, believing the light would guide the returning souls back to their earthly homes.
When Spanish conquistadores arrived in the New World in the 16th century, they brought these All Souls Day traditions with them. However, the Spanish colonial encounter also introduced a different perspective on death, partly influenced by the devastating bubonic plague that had swept through Europe. This darker view intertwined with indigenous beliefs, contributing to the syncretic nature of Day of the Dead as it is celebrated today.
Modern Celebrations: A Festive Reunion
It’s crucial to understand that what is Day of the Dead is not simply a “Mexican Halloween,” although both holidays share some superficial similarities like costumes and parades. Día de los Muertos possesses a distinct spirit and purpose. The core belief is that on this special day, the boundary between the spirit world and the world of the living dissolves. For a brief, precious period, the souls of the deceased awaken and return to the living realm to reunite with their families.
Living family members, in turn, welcome these returning spirits as honored guests. They prepare elaborate feasts, play music, dance, and create a joyful atmosphere of reunion. This is why ofrendas are so central to the celebration. They are not merely memorials, but welcoming altars designed to entice the spirits back with their favorite earthly pleasures. Ofrendas are adorned with vibrant marigold flowers (cempasuchil), whose scent is believed to guide spirits, along with crimson cock’s combs, flickering candles, and, of course, an array of food and drinks, from stacks of tortillas and sweet pan de muerto to fruits and favorite beverages of the departed.
Iconic Symbols: Skulls, Skeletons, and La Catrina
Perhaps the most visually striking aspect of what is Day of the Dead is its iconography, particularly the prevalence of calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls). These are not meant to be macabre or frightening but rather playful and celebratory representations of death. Their prominence in Day of the Dead imagery can be largely attributed to the early 20th-century Mexican printer and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada.
Posada masterfully incorporated skeletal figures into his artwork to satirize politicians and comment on the social and political upheavals of the Mexican Revolution. His most famous creation, La Calavera Catrina, or the Elegant Skull, is an iconic figure: a female skeleton dressed in elaborate, fashionable attire and makeup. Created in 1910, La Catrina was intended as a commentary on Mexicans who were perceived as abandoning their indigenous heritage in favor of European fashions. However, La Catrina transcended its initial satirical purpose and has become one of the most recognizable and beloved symbols of Day of the Dead, representing the holiday’s sophisticated and culturally rich approach to death.
Today, during Day of the Dead festivities, people frequently don skull masks and face paint, embodying the playful spirit of calaveras. Sugar skulls, ornately decorated and often personalized, are another popular treat and symbol. The pan de ánimas from Spanish All Souls Day traditions finds its counterpart in pan de muerto, the sweet, slightly anise-flavored bread that is a quintessential element of Day of the Dead feasts. Other foods and drinks associated with the holiday, enjoyed both during the celebration and year-round, include rich dark chocolate with chili and atole, a warm, comforting corn-based drink. To wish someone well during this time, you would say, “Feliz día de los Muertos,” Happy Day of the Dead.
Day of the Dead in the Modern World: Pop Culture and Global Reach
Historically, Day of the Dead celebrations were most deeply rooted in rural, indigenous communities throughout Mexico. However, starting in the 1980s, the holiday’s observance began to expand into urban centers. This growing recognition of Día de los Muertos on a broader scale was further cemented in 2008 when UNESCO designated Mexico’s “Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead” as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In recent years, the tradition has experienced even greater amplification thanks to its increasing visibility in popular culture and its rising popularity in the United States, home to a large population of Mexican descent. As of 2016, over 36 million people in the U.S. identified as having partial or full Mexican ancestry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, contributing to the holiday’s spread and adoption.
The 2015 James Bond film Spectre, which opened with a visually stunning Day of the Dead parade sequence, significantly boosted the holiday’s global profile. Inspired by the movie, Mexico City held its first-ever large-scale Day of the Dead parade in 2016, transforming a traditionally intimate celebration into a grand public spectacle. By 2017, major U.S. cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Fort Lauderdale were also hosting their own Day of the Dead parades, reflecting the holiday’s growing appeal and cross-cultural resonance. The release of Disney and Pixar’s animated film Coco in November 2017 further solidified Day of the Dead’s place in mainstream culture. Coco, a $175 million cinematic tribute to the Mexican tradition, resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, telling the story of a young boy transported to the Land of the Dead.
Conclusion: A Timeless Celebration of Life and Memory
While the specific customs and scale of Day of the Dead celebrations continue to evolve in response to contemporary influences, the heart of the holiday remains unchanged across millennia. What is Day of the Dead at its core? It is a profound and beautiful occasion dedicated to remembering and celebrating the lives of those who have passed on. More than just remembrance, it is about portraying death not as a fearsome end, but as a natural and accepted part of the human experience. It is a time to honor the enduring connections of love and family that transcend the boundaries of life and death, celebrated with joy, color, and a deep respect for the ongoing cycle of life.
Sources
Día de los Muertos: A Brief History, National Hispanic Cultural Center
Giardina, Carolyn, “‘Coco’: How Pixar Brought its ‘Day of the Dead’ Story to Life,” Hollywood Reporter, December 12, 2017
Dobrin, Isabel, “Día de los Muertos Comes to Life Across the Mexican Diaspora,” NPR, November 2, 2017
Scott, Chris. “Day of the Dead parade – Life imitates art,” CNN, October 28, 2016
Mictlantecuhtli, Ancient History Encyclopedia
