![]() These are the cempasuchil flowers and their scent will guide the spirits of the deceased as they return to visit their family. Many beautiful yellow, gold and orange flowers will adorn the altar. It is believed that salt will protect the body from breaking down as it travels the journey between the world of the dead and of the living. Most altars have a simple white table cloth, often one that has been passed through generations, covering the different levels. Each altar is individual but here are 5 items (plus a couple more) that you are likely to see on a Dia de los Muertos altar in Mexico: 1. Traditionally an altar consists of three levels representing heaven, Earth and the world in between. These beautiful altars include a variety of symbols and objects which represent those who have passed on.īecause there are several days of celebrations and preparations to receive loved ones, the altars take time and dedication. Deceased loved ones are welcomed back to the land of the living for just a short time and altars are constructed to honor and remember family members and will be present in most households. With more elaborate ofrendas, you can find up to seven levels.El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, Celebrations in Mexico take place from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November. The most common ones have three levels, which represent heaven, earth, and the underworld. ![]() ![]() In some regions, you can find a flat surface with all the elements on it, while in others you can find several levels. LevelsĮvery state in Mexico has its own particular way of setting up their ofrendas. These Christian traditions of solemnity eventually merged with the pre-Columbian rituals and offerings honoring death and evolved into a festive celebration with music, food, arts, and dances. The date comes from the Christian tradition that on November 1st celebrates All Saints' Day (or All Hallows’ Day, which some countries celebrate on October 31st as Hallows’ Eve or Halloween), and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. The celebrations of Day of the Dead are a result of Mexico’s syncretic nature after the conquest. So, though the movie actually makes a great job of showcasing all the different elements, it didn’t have enough time to really deconstruct what each of the elements mean (especially when it comes to the shrines), so that’s precisely what we’re doing let’s start by talking a bit about the celebration and how the shrines became such an important aspect of it. Day of the Dead is just an important festivity that encompasses our syncretic nature through color, emotions, traditions, and a lot of art. I mean, could you imagine how profitable it would be to bring back to life the biggest icons and important people from history? Sadly, that’s not the case. Honestly, if this were the case, we would be the richest country ever. I can’t say how many times foreigners have asked me all sorts of strange questions about it, including my former roommates, who were really scared of my ofrenda (shrine) because they were sure it was some sort of satanic rite to bring back the dead. Naturally, since it's all about the celebrations of Day of the Dead (my ultimate favorite festivity), I’m so happy it made people see what it’s all about. I’m often asked why I’m still obsessed with the movie “ Coco.” Besides the fact that it's a great story, as a Mexican, I confidently say that the main reason is that it managed to show the world our traditions, beliefs, and realities in such an honest way like perhaps no other foreign production had done before.
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