analysis: The Day of the Dead Celebration

What is Catina: The Day of the Dead

Notes:

• The Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos)is a festival popular in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is of the belief that the border that separates the dead from the living will go away and the dead will be able to return to to be with family members again during 24-hour period.
• It is a two-day celebration that begins midnight November 01 and ends on midnight the 2nd day. Living members generally placed pictures of deceased members and fragrant flowers in order to entice them to come back.
• Though you won’t be able to visually see the dead – however, their presence may be felt (so they say) as the dead mingles with live family members and provides them advice and council.
• And being that it is a long journey from the other side, earthy members will prepare the deceased members’ favorite dishes that to be placed upon the altar with the pictures – tokens that can be consumed by the dead for their long journey back.
• The festival is similar to All Hallows Day that you find in parts of Europe mingled with some Aztecan theology – although it doesn’t have any association with Halloween.
• QUESTION?
  Top 10 things to know about the Day of the Dead

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And then there is La Catrina

Notes:

• La Catrina is very symbol that represents the Day of the Dead – she is referred to as Mexico’s Grand Dame of Death. She protects the bones of the dead and presides over death festivals that include the Day of the Dead.
• So being the festival’s grand goddess, you will see many people dressed in costumes or with make-up and temporary tatoos to resemble her powerful position that can be traced back to the Aztec.
• QUESTION?
  La Catrina: Mexico’s grande dame of death

•    some day of the dead decor ideas to consider      

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Let the festival begin

Notes:

• The “the days of the dead” refer to the days of October 31 – November 2. It begins the evening of October 31, which is All Hallows eve. November 1 is “el Dia de los innnocentes” or the day of the children, All Saints Day. November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead.
• According to tradition, during the midnight hour on October 31, the gates of heaven are opened and deceased children can come back to rejoin with family members for 24 hours. The same is true at midnight of November 01 when the adults can return for 24 hours during November 2.
• It is not like Halloween (though it begins the morning after). The Day of the Dead celebrates life and the opportunity to honor and speak of past family members and ancestors.
• November 02 is also a festive day where you can experience a parade, carnivals and other great displays and food.
• QUESTION?
  In pictures: Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade

•    some day of the day outfits to consider      

  day of dead outfits for menday of the dead outfits for womenday of dead t-shirts

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Dressing up

Notes:

• Celebrating the festival means dressing up. True, there are costumes, but the real celebrators dress up using make-up, tatoos and the like to create the unique look.
• Key ideas include Catrina – the goddess of the event – or other skeletal scenes that makes your look work for both Halloween and The Day of the Dead.
• You can find ideas online for both men, women and children.
• QUESTION?
  DAY of THE DEAD ART

•    some facial makeup ideas to consider      

  day of the dead tatoosday of the dead makeupday of the dead fack mask

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Getting ready for their return

Notes:

• One of the first things you need to do is build an altar inside a room or other place where your dead ancestors would like to come back to. This may be their past sitting room, kitchen or garden area where they they frequently visited while living on earth.
• The altar is simply a table with some risers (crate boxes) so that you can place the following:

  • Portraits:

    portraits, pictures or sketches of the deceased. They are usually elevated high on the altar for everyone to see.

  • Food and Water:

    varying types of food – bread, salt, maze, fruit, cakes, etc. – and water to provide food to eat and water to quench their thirst after a long journey to and back from the other side.

  • Candles:

    functioning as a light to guide the deceased to and back.

  • Salt:

    to keep the deceased purified so that they won’t be tainted on their journey to and back to the other side.

  • Flowers:

    fragrant flowers – particularly the marigold – to provide the scent the deceased need to find their way to your abode.

• QUESTION?
  traditional alter element for the day of the dead celebration

•    some day of the dead alter ideas to consider      

  day of dead alter decorationsday of dead candleslive marigold flowers

• What comments can you share about
  your experiences celebrating Mexico’s Dia De Los Muertos