El Dia de los Muertos – one of the most celebrated festivals in the Hispanic world! Known in English as ‘the Day of the Dead’, this colourful festival is celebrated every year on the 1st and 2nd of November to remember those who have passed away. It is known not only in the Hispanic world, but throughout the rest of the globe as well, for its vivid colours, iconic altars, and special traditions.
Annually, in order to celebrate this vibrant festival, Hispanic families go to the cemetery to clean the graves of their loved ones and decorate their graves with flowers. In addition, Masses are also held by priests to offer special prayers.
Ofrendas (or altars) are made each year by families in Mexico to honour the dead, to remember their loved ones. Typically, these are decorated with photos of deceased family members, and some of their favourite things like foods, flowers, and candles. A lot of the times, the families even include a washbasin and towel so that the dead can wash themselves.
An interesting fact is that is believed that marigolds (known as Cempasúchil or caléndulas) are used to good the souls of the loved ones to the altars due to their vibrant colour and smell. For this reason, marigolds are an iconic flower of Mexico.
According to tradition, the dead don’t only come as ghosts for one day of the year – instead, they come and go all the time, stopping in to visit living family members on a frequent basis. ‘El día de los muertos’ not only celebrates the lives of those who once lived, but they also remind the living that the dead are always still around.
