History

The celebration of Day of the Dead grew from the blending of Aztec and Christian beliefs of death that the Spanish conquistadors brought to the people of Mexico. Both publicly and privately, the Mexican community makes light of death and pokes fun at it while sincerely honoring the memories of their deceased family members.

The Aztecs, Maya, and other pre-Hispanic peoples of Central and South America saw death as a part of the process of life. The Aztecs believed that at the end of the present world, everyone who had died would be born again. They honored the spirits of the dead and invited them to visit on certain days of the year. On those days, they placed food offerings on their tombs. When the Spanish conquered Mexico, Spanish monks combined the Aztec people’s beliefs and rites into their religious calendar.

The festival of Day of the Dead is a family celebration, a reunion of the living with their deceased relatives. On November 1, departed children are remembered. This is known as the Day of the Little Angels or Día de los Angelitos. Adults are remembered on November 2. Different regions celebrate in different styles. In some villages, a comparsa, or masquerade parade, takes place. Some towns light candles in the cemeteries one night but not the other. Bakers make pan de muertos, the bread of the dead. Candy makers create skulls made from sugar. Artisans cut tissue-paper decorations called estampas or papel picado. Farmers harvest cempasúchil, marigolds, known as the flowers of the dead. Mexican communities in the United States also celebrate the Day of the Dead, blending their traditional fiesta with modern festivities.