Halloween is such an exciting holiday, full of mystery, magic and anticipation. While it is certainly a treat to get dressed up and go trick or treating, I feel like the true meaning of Halloween has been lost in all the candy and costumes.
Today most people spend hundreds of dollars on costumes, decorations, parties and candy for a night that lasts only a few hours. The day after Halloween, we are left with mountains of empty candy wrappers and costumes that will never be worn again. But what if Halloween was not about trick or treating? What if it was about more?
The Day of the Dead is one such holiday that carries far more cultural significance than our modern version of Halloween. The Day of the Dead originated in Mexico as a celebration to honor ancestors who had passed away. Families gather together on this day to remember their deceased loved ones by building altars with photos, marigold flowers and candles, and leaving out treats like pan de muerto (bread) as offerings for their beloved spirits.
While it may seem strange to honor those who have passed away, the Day of the Dead is a joyful holiday filled with music, dancing and delicious food. Families feast together on special dishes like mole poblano (a traditional Mexican dish with chicken in
We all know that Halloween is a time of trick or treating, dressing up in costumes, and carving pumpkins. But what if Halloween wasn’t about those things? What did Halloween look like before the candy companies took over? What does Halloween look like today for people who don’t celebrate the holiday?
Halloween has a rich and interesting history, with roots that go back thousands of years. The largest non-christian holiday in the world, it has long been celebrated as a time to honor the dead and commune with spirits. This is called Samhain (pronounced sow-en or saah-ven), and it was celebrated by the ancient Celts on November 1st. Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter, a liminal time when it was believed that spirits could more easily pass into our realm. Huge bonfires were built to ward off the evil spirits and cattle were brought in from the fields to be slaughtered, so that there would be enough food during winter. The souls of those who had died that year were also thought to revisit their homes at this time. To honor them and help them on their way to the next world, people would leave food out for them and build special fires where they could warm themselves after
Halloween is a fun and exciting time of year, but the origins of this holiday often get lost. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most important Mexican holidays; it is a celebration of life and death that is unlike any other.
For two days every year—November 1st and 2nd—people across Mexico honor their deceased loved ones by visiting their graves or building altars in their homes to welcome them back for the occasion. They spend these two days celebrating the lives that their loved ones lived, remembering fond memories and stories, eating favorite foods, and listening to favorite music.
Children are taught from a young age that death is not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced as part of the always-flowing cycle of life. Death is viewed as an inevitable part of life and when someone dies they are believed to be journeying through Mictlán on their way back home to visit once again before continuing on their way.
The Day of the Dead costumes you see people wearing aren’t silly Halloween costumes; they represent a deeper cultural tradition. Many people refuse to dress up as ghouls and monsters for Halloween because it’s offensive and disrespectful to dress up as
With its focus on candy, costumes and scary movies, Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in North America. But did you know that the holiday originates from an ancient indigenous Mexican festival?
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday which has spread to other countries across the world. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2, in connection with the Catholic triduum Allhallowtide: All Saints’ Eve, Hallowmas, and All Souls’ Day.
The tradition originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, Olmec, Zapotec and Totonac people in Mesoamerica. For them, every year at midnight on October 31st a veil between our world and that of the dead became very thin. It was believed that during this time deceased ancestors were able to return to our world to visit their loved ones.
November 1st was a day to honor departed children while November 2nd was celebrated as a day of the dead adult souls. These celebrations lasted for several days; during this time families would gather together to offer gifts and food – especially sugar skulls – at
Today, Halloween is a day for children to get dressed up in costumes and go trick-or-treating. But do you know how Halloween began? What was it like before it became a holiday for children?
“Day of the Dead” or “El Día de los Muertos” is a Mexican holiday celebrated on October 31st and November 1st. The holiday is intended to honor deceased loved ones, who are welcomed back to their home for a brief visit. It is believed that during this time, the souls of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours beginning at midnight on October 31st. The spirits of deceased adults can visit from October 31st through November 2nd.
Traditionally, families welcome the dead by creating an altar in their homes with offerings such as flowers, food, water and personal items of the deceased. An individual’s altar is called an ofrenda, and the more elaborate altars are decorated with marigolds, papel picado (colorful tissue paper banners), candles, crosses and statues of angels and saints. Calaveras (skulls) made from sugar or clay are also common decorations used during the holiday.
In an age of conspicuous consumption, the Day of the Dead is a reminder that life is fleeting and material things don’t matter. The holiday is a celebration of life and a mourning for death. It is a reminder that all human beings have an equal share in both the time we spend on earth and the legacy we leave behind.
The holiday is a celebration of life and a mourning for death. It is a reminder that all human beings have an equal share in both the time we spend on earth and the legacy we leave behind.
As Americans, we are prone to think of ourselves as distinct from other nations and cultures, but in this case our own cultural heritage is strongly influenced by traditions from Mexico, where Day of the Dead celebrations date back thousands of years.
It’s not just candy and costumes; it’s an opportunity to reflect on mortality and celebrate the lives of those who have passed away with family and friends**
The Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by people with Mexican heritage (who live in other countries) on November 1st and 2nd. It is believed that on these days, the dead come back to earth to be with their families. In order to welcome them home, families create alters called “Ofrendas” (offerings) which are decorated with candles, marigold flowers, food, and beverages. The favorite foods and beverages of the deceased are also left out for them to enjoy. Many people also go to cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves as well.
The Day of the Dead celebrations were originated several thousand years ago by the Aztec tribes who lived in what is now central Mexico. They believed that there was an afterlife and that the dead lived in a place called Mictlan which was difficult to reach. To help ease their journey they would hold feasts and leave offerings along the way. The festivities were dedicated to Mictecacihuatl, the Aztec goddess of death, who would help lead the deceased on their journey.
The Aztecs also believed that life was cyclical and every fifty-two years all creation was destroyed by earthquake and flood. After each destruction,