Fall has finally arrived! One of the biggest holidays in Mexico is approaching "Dia de los Muertos". Día de los Muertos is a festival celebrating the reunion of relatives that have passed on, with their families, November 1st and 2nd.
In Spanish, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are known as El Día de Todos los Santos and El Día de los Muertos, respectively. While it's strange for most of us to accept the fact that "death" and "festivities" can go hand-in-hand, for most Mexicans, the two are intricately entwined. This all stems from the ancient indigenous peoples of Mexico (Purepecha, Nahua, Totonac and Otomí) who believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit with their living relatives - to eat, drink and be merry. Just like they did when they were living.
One of the main events is building an alter in the home and decorating the resting place of there loved ones.
La Ofrenda
In Mexico, beautiful ofrendas (alters) are made in each home. They are decorated with candles, flowers (marigolds) and mounds of fruit, peanuts, mole and stacks of tortillas. La ofrenda will traditioanally include pictures of loved ones, and their favoirte items, to include there favorite foods. The alter provides a feast for the returning spirits. Decorated sugar skulls are amongst the favorite items. Pan de Muerto is an essential food item that is placed on the alter.
In Mexico, beautiful ofrendas (alters) are made in each home. They are decorated with candles, flowers (marigolds) and mounds of fruit, peanuts, mole and stacks of tortillas. La ofrenda will traditioanally include pictures of loved ones, and their favoirte items, to include there favorite foods. The alter provides a feast for the returning spirits. Decorated sugar skulls are amongst the favorite items. Pan de Muerto is an essential food item that is placed on the alter.
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