Today, the celebration of the Día de los Muertos blends elements from both the Aztec and the Catholic traditions. However, after the Spaniards conquered Mexico in the 16th century, the Catholic Church moved all indigenous traditions concerning the cult of the dead to November 1st (the Day of All Saints) and 2nd (the Day of all Souls), so they would fit into the Christian calendar.Įventually, the solemnity with which these two holidays were celebrated was replaced by a much more festive attitude, as Mexicans started to approach death with a particular sense of ‘cheerfulness’. In ancient times, the Aztecs held many rituals throughout the year to honor their dead. The roots of Día de los Muertos’ go deep into the Aztec era of Mexico. The Historical Origins of Día de los Muertos Altar Here’s a closer look at the history and elements of a traditional Día de los Muertos altar, and what each of these represents. However, traditional altars share a series of common elements, such as its structure, and the elements on top of it, including modeled human skulls (made of clay or ceramic), salt, marigolds flowers, food, drinks, some of the deceased’s personal belongings, candles, copal, incense, sugar skulls, water, and paper cortado cut-outs. One of the most significant traditions associated with this holiday is the decoration of personalized, homemade altars (known as ofrendas in Spanish), dedicated to the memory of the departed.Īltars are homemade and personalized, so each one of them is unique in its own way. It’s believed that during this celebration, the spirits of the dead come back to spend some time among the living, so families and friends gather to welcome the souls of their loved ones. This festivity takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November.
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