Dias de los Muertos--a brief history

What is Dias de los Muertos?
El Dias de los Muertos (or All Souls' Day as it is called in English) is a holiday that is mainly celebrated in Mexico on November 2nd, this often gets mixed in with the festivities of the American celebrated holiday, Halloween. This is a time when Mexican families spend time at the cemetery, visiting the graves of their relatives and loved ones tidying up, decorating and perhaps painting the headstones on the gravesites, arranging flowers, especially flowers and lighting lots of candles. Puppets and masks,skeleton figurines usually are very popular. Mexican families construct special home altars dedicated to the
spirits of their deceased loved ones. The altars range from simple to very elaborate table with offerings and are usually filled with objects that provided pleasure to the departed person in life, including their favorite food and drink. Altars dedicated to the spirits of deceased children often include toys, candy and other sweets.They set out picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones. This celebrations usually takes place from October 31st through November 2nd.

How did the D.O.T.D. evolve?
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now called Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate the ritual known today as Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States, including many metropolitan areas.

Who celebrates this day?
This celebration goes without saying, this is still celebrated by many folks of the Mexican decent, this is also becoming a celebration of the modern urban professional crowd as well as many other folks who participate in folk art, antique collecting, sculpture, modern art and collecting of artifacts. There are many celebrations throughout the US that celebrate this festive ritual, Southern California, New Orleans, New York, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida and many other colorful areas within the US.

Why had it become so much more popular over the past decade?
The art that reflects the D.O.T.D. is often colorful, vibrant and happy and quite interesting to view. The collection of folk art in the past years have brought a new meaning to collectors
as well as a new understanding of what then D.O.T.D. really means. The art is of many mediums, sculpture, canvas paintings, wood cuts, clay, and even bread. It is a holiday with a complex history, and therefore its observance varies quite a bit by region and by degree of urbanization. It is not a morbid occasion in any way shape or form, but rather a festive time.

D.O.T.D. Meanings, definitions and education?
There are many books and other resources that are dedicated to the education of the Dias de los Muertos. Many of the festivals that will be taking place close to this time of the year will have many altars to view, figurines and other art to purchase along with celebrated foods, drink and music. For a lot of useful information, conduct some Internet searches on the words "Dias de los Muertos", "Day of the Dead", as well as "All Souls' Day".

This holiday is for the celebration of life, this is certainly not a holiday of sadness.

USEFUL LINKS:
http://www.azcentral.com/rep/dead/
http://www.peoplesguide.com/1pages/chapts/viva/dodead/1dodindex.html
http://www.dayofthedead.com/

Written by Sonya Paz
www.spazart.com
San Jose, California
09.28.01