Day of the Dead, as colorful as Mexico
A beautiful tradition filled with symbols, meaning and imagery.
Many people make altars or “ofrendas” (offerings) in their homes to honor their loved ones who have died. Every ofrenda also includes the four elements: water, wind, earth and fire. Water is left in a pitcher so the spirits can quench their thirst. “Papel picado”, or traditional colorful paper banners, represent the wind. Earth is represented by food, especially bread. Candles are often left in the form of a cross to represent the cardinal directions, so the spirits can find their way.
The most popular Day of the Dead flowers used for celebrations are cempazuchitl flowers, also known as “marigolds.” Decorating for Day of the Dead is one of the most beautiful things about the holiday, and flowers are often a big part of these decorations. The flower is placed on graves during the holiday. It is believed to lure souls back from the dead to the land of the living with its vibrant colors and powerful scents. The name is derived from Aztec origins and roughly translates to the “flower of many petals.” The cempazuchitl was sacred for the Aztecs and its bright color represented the sun.
Papel picado literally means ‘punched’ or ‘perforated’ paper. This traditional cut paper folk art is found throughout Mexico and the former colonies of Spain as well as in the folk traditions of many other countries. During the “Día de los Muertos” celebration it is placed around the edges of the altar, which adds color to the table. Some say that the four elements are represented with different items at the altar and the movement of the “papel picado” represents air. The different colors represent the joy of living.
A “calavera” is a skull, a “calaverita” is a little skull, and a “calavera de azúcar” is a sugar skull. These are placed on the altar and often have the name of the deceased person inscribed on the forehead. They symbolize that death can be sweet and not bitter. In Mexico, we also give it to friends with their name written on it. It’s not offensive at all… it reminds us to think of death more cheerfully and to remember our loved ones with happiness, hence the bright colorful decorations.
“Pan de Muerto” (Bread of the Dead): It is one of most associated foods with Day of the Dead and can vary greatly from region to region. It is often placed on the altar but can also be consumed and dunked in coffee or hot chocolate. The Bread is round in shape to represent the cycle of life and death. The shapes on top, “canillas,” represent bones and the cardinal points. Each of them are dedicated to the 4 Aztec gods: Tezcatlipoca (the central deity, a creator god), Tlaloc (god of rain), Quetzalcoatl (the feathered serpent, patron of priests, inventor of books, protector of craftsmen), and Xipe Totec(god of Spring and regeneration was a life-death-rebirth deity). The main flavor is Orange Blossom called “azahar” to remember the deceased.
Check out the rest of the images in my Day of the Dead series here.
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Feliz Dia de Muertos!
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