When is it and what does it mean?

On By Littum

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Day of the Dead, the Mexican celebration that honors the memory of the departed, is here.

The Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is often mistakenly called the “Mexican Halloween” due to the year it is celebrated and its use of skeletons. The holiday has its roots in southern Mexico, honoring the memory of deceased family members, friends and even pets.

La Casita Center, a Hispanic non-profit in Louisville, has one Day of the Dead celebration from 4 to 10 on Saturdays at 445 E. Market St. The free event will have music, altars and food.

Here’s what you need to know about Day of the Dead:

When is Day of the Dead 2024?

This year, the holiday is marked on Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November.

What is Day of the Dead?

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday. During the two days, the spirits are believed to return home and spend time with their relatives.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated mainly in Mexico and Central America and has found its way to several cities in the United States

Do you say ‘Happy Dia de los Muertos?’ Day of the Dead greetings

Despite its cheerful appearance, Dia de los Muertos is a somber holiday to honor those who have passed on. Therefore, it is considered a faux pas to wish someone “Feliz Dia de los Muertos” or “Happy Day of the Dead” according to a blog post from Loco Gringo.

Similarities and differences between Halloween and Dia de los Muertos

Both holidays are within days of each other, but they are not the same.

Although both can be considered “spooky”, Halloween revolves around darkness, death, ghosts, witches, candy and costumes. On the other hand, Day of the Dead is explicitly about the afterlife and remembrance.

Day of the Dead traditions

Food, flowers and altars are necessary components of the celebration. To honor the deceased, foods such as sugar skulls, buns and beverages are arranged on ofrendas or house altars, along with clay ornaments and sentimental items.

Either in the cemetery itself or at a table at home, family members believe that their loved ones will enjoy the “essence” of their offered treats.

Houses and streets are decorated with paper and flower garlands. Bright orange marigold flowers, commonly known as the “flowers of the dead,” are believed to draw the souls of loved ones to sacrificers by their scent.

Here are some of the ofrendas used and why:

  • Burning candles: Candles help to give ofrendas a festive glow.
  • Photos of deceased loved ones: Used to attune and remember lost loved ones.
  • Marigold flowers: Flowers are placed on walkways to help the deceased find their way to their loved ones.
  • Memory of the deceased: Personal effects, such as playing cards, a watch or glasses, or other memorabilia that belonged to the deceased.
  • Burning incense: Matter is symbolically transformed into the spiritual. Mesoamerican cultures use copal, a sacred incense, for important occasions and ceremonies.
  • Little Sugar Skulls: These little candies are enjoyed during the festivities. They represent the sweetness of life.
  • Mezcal or water: Bottles of mezcal or Atole, a traditional hot corn-based drink, are offered to the deceased to help them on their long journey to the land of the dead.
  • Bread of the Dead: To represent our own mortality and bones, the bread has four stripes on top to create a cross.

Why are skeletons used in Day of the Dead?

Skeletons are the most iconic representations of the Day of the Dead. People dress up in ornate costumes with skull faces today. A playful representation of life after death is a skeleton.

One of the many well-known depictions of the Day of the Dead, La Calavera Catrinawhich translates to “elegant skull”, first appeared in 1910 as a skeletal figure wearing an elaborate outfit.

In Mexico, satirical artist Jose Guadalupe Posada was the first to draw her figure. It was meant to serve as a mocking reminder to those who aspire to social and political prominence that at their core all are human – mere bundles of bones.

Alebrijes: Even the dead need a spiritual guide

Pedro Linaresan artist in Mexico City, introduced the celebration to colorful, mythical creatures known as Alebrijes in 1936. With exaggerated bodies with stripes and dots, they are considered creatures from our dreams and the underworld. They are typically made of paper mache or wood.

Sacred animals in the indigenous culture:

  • Butterfly: Considered the symbol of rebirth and transformation for humans.
  • Xoloitzcuintli dog: These dogs were believed to guide the spirits of ancestors to their final resting place into the afterlife.
  • Lizard: This spirit animal stands for rebirth, regeneration and the ability to adapt to any environment.