DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: CELEBRATION, CONNECTION, PEACE

GRAPHIC BY SAMIRA KUNATE

Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is Mexico’s celebration of life and reuniting with all loved ones. Dia de los Muertos honors those who have passed through the means of ofrendas, which is like a memorial. The holiday is most notably known for it’s bright colors, grand celebrations, and rich foods. It’s often considered difficult to describe as there’s so much that sparks the senses. Despite that, pieces can be brought to life through words…

The Cempasúchil (Marigold) flower is a staple of an ofrenda; the almost neon orange of the flora giving a glow to the altar. Traditionally, it was picked for it’s pungent floral smell that has a bit of spice to it. Although it an intense scent of earth and a fluorescent color, it’s a comforting trail that leads back to home for the spirits. Overall, it represents a deep love for those who have passed, and joy for the time you got to spend with them. Chrysanthemums hold a similar sentiment with a crisper and clearer smell. They also come in a variety of vivid colors with meanings such as grief, life, rebirth, wealth, and celebration. With ‘Mums the petals are picked rather than the whole flower being used, creating a beautiful blend of orange, green, and deep purples scattered around.

HOME ALTAR FOR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

In the beginning days, families meet at the cemetery to pray, bringing the first flowers of the holiday. The wind a little cool, but a warmth fills the air being surrounded by family physically and spiritually. The smell of coffee and pan are thick in the air, passed around to each member of the celebration. It’s a time to talk, laugh, and enjoy each other’s presence. Celebration runs through the streets, yet it’s the last day when the memorial is at it’s strongest. Everyone brings all their decorations from the altars at home to the cemeteries, as well as dozens of more flowers. 

It’s smells hot from the candles that light the night, but also cozy from the bread, coffee, and favorite foods of the lost. The people play guitar, trumpets, and sing favorite songs of the departed, the melodies harmonizing. Pictures of a variety of faces are spread throughout the area, each representing late relatives. Three to four hours is dedicated to celebrating family. 

A feast of well liked foods is also had. If a loved one enjoyed a food during life, it would be on the table creating a diverse scent and taste experience. From ponche and ice cream to mole and pozole, barbacoa, and tamales. Oil and spices flavor the air and everyone grabs a big plate. It’s a feast of loved ones favorite foods.

By word of mouth, myths and legends are told. La Catrina is the personification of the idea that death makes us equal in the end. Rich or poor, there’s no escaping death, and we are all the same in that manner. So while Day of the Dead is about mourning the loss of loved ones, it’s also about celebrating the life they lived. It represents the beauty of life and the welcoming of the afterlife. It’s the holiday of combining juxtapositions: Life and death, joy and sadness, peace and regret, distance and closeness, all at once. A beautifully otherworldly celebration.