Day of the Dead 2016: Five things you didn't know about Mexico's Dia de Muertos

The annual festival has been marked with a Google doodle

Gabriel Samuels
Wednesday 02 November 2016 18:53 GMT
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Day of the Dead style costumes and decorations are famous across the world for their use of skull icons
Day of the Dead style costumes and decorations are famous across the world for their use of skull icons

Wednesday night marks the end of the annual Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead festival, celebrated across Mexico and observed by Mexican-American communities acoss the US.

The two-day festival developed from ancient rituals designed by the Aztecs to commemorate relatives who had died during the year, and encourages people to get together to pray and support the spiritual journies of the dead.

Families hold vigils, present offerings to the deceased and hold large parties and gatherings in the belief that spirits will bless them with good luck and protection. The wearing of skull make-up and use of skull icons is encouraged as part of the festival.

Meanwhile this year Mexico City celebrated the festival with its first ever official parade, inspired by a famous scene from the latest James Bond film Spectre.

Here are some things you may not know about the Day of the Dead festival:

It's not meant to be frightening

Despite the prevalence of skulls and the macabre outfits people wear (and the festival having a name which brings to mind a zombie horror film), Mexicans tend to see the humour in death and strongly believe death is something to be celebrated in a lively way, and not to be afraid of.

Day of the Dead is intended to be a sombre, serious festival in some ways - but it is celebrated in a colourful, carnival-esque atmosphere and sugar skulls are eaten as a reminder that death is a sweet continuation of the life cycle.

In some parts of Mexico, children don costumes for their version of trick-or-treating, but there is no suggestion of monsters or frightening creatures being involved.

Traditions vary from town to town

The traditions and activities that take place in celebration of the Day of the Dead are not universal, often varying from place to place across Mexico.

In the town of Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, the tradition is very different if the deceased is a child rather than an adult. On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the godparents set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, pan de muerto (a type of sweet roll), a cross and candles. This is meant to celebrate the child's life, in respect and appreciation for the parents.

Mexico City held its first ever public parade for the festival this year

There is also dancing with colorful costumes, often with skull-shaped masks and devil masks in the plaza or garden of the town. At midnight on November 2, the people light candles and ride winged boats called mariposas (butterflies) to Janitzio, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there.

The town of Ocotepec meanwhile opens its doors to visitors in exchange for small wax candles to show respect for the recently deceased. Many people of the surrounding areas arrive early to eat for free and enjoy the elaborate altars set up to receive the visitors.

It's also celebrated in the Philippines and South America

The modern celebrations of Day of the Dead are thought to have been imported to the Philippines when the islands were governed from Mexico City by the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the 1500s.

As in Mexico, Filipinos use the holiday to visit and tend to family tombs. Families are known to spend the night in graveyards, playing card games and drinking to feel close to their deceased relatives.

Festival goers are known to often celebrate by visiting the graves of relatives

Variations of the festival are also celebrated on November 2 in Brazil, where it is known as Finados, in Ecuador, where families cook ceremonial foods, and Belize, where it is known as Day of the Skulls - and residents crown the skulls of relatives with fresh flowers.

People write hilarious poems about their dead friends

Creative festival goers are known to write short poems, often like limericks, called "calaveras" which are intended to mock the epitaphs of deceased friends.

In the poems, the authors typically describe odd habits their friends had, poke fun at their attitudes to life and include funny anecdotes.

The custom is believed to have originated in the late 18th century and poems are often accompanied by elaborate drawings.

The festival is a protected cultural heritage

In 2008, the Day of the Dead was written into the list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity by UNESCO, alongside religious celebrations, dances and skills from around the world.

The organisation noted the "great care taken with all aspects of the preparations" for the festival, and praised its creativity and vibrancy.

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