The Day of the Dead
November 2
This unique holiday is one of the most colorful annual festivals, a celebration of life and of those loved ones who have passed on. During this time, the living welcome the souls of the departed as the dead are allowed to visit friends and relatives on earth.
Families visit the cemeteries where loved ones are buried and clean and decorate the graves. Orange marigolds are everywhere, since they are said to attract the souls of the dead. Ofrendas (offerings or altars) are placed on the graves and in the homes—toys for children, trinkets and tequila for adults. At the cemetery, an all-night banquet with the departeds favorite foods and beverages is shared with the living and the dead, and stories about all are told. In the home, altars provide a gathering place for family to reminisce.
The most important character is the key symbol of death, the calavera (skull or skeleton). Whimsical skeleton figures and images shown doing ordinary everyday things (washing dishes, playing in a band, fighting with a spouse) are everywhere, representing the circle of life rather than the somberness of death. Sugar skulls with the name of the recipient on the forehead are traditional, as is pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread formed into skulls, bones, people and rabbits.
Public schools build altars with ofrendas, and government offices usually have at least a small altar. Each year City Hall offers a special altar exhibition, as does the Cultural Center on Rio Cuale Island. Restaurants, nightclubs and stores also create altars.
November 1st honors deceased children and infants; deceased adults are honored on November 2nd.
