Día de Muertos

Día de Muertos (Day Od the Dead) is one of the most respected and widely celebrated days in Mexico. In parts of Mexico, it's the entire month of October, but in most parts, it's just Nov 1 and 2. If you follow me on Twitter @catlady1952 , you'll already know some things about it. Such as:
 1. The basis of it 's prehispanic and even pre-Aztec and quite ancient. The Aztecs probably have the greatest influence on how we present the altar now. The Aztecs believed that when people died, they had a long voyage to arrive at their final destination: Mictlán. There was no Hell. You were expected to be a good person. How long your voyage was would depend partly on that.

2. It is synchretic. A fusion of ancient MesoAmerican beliefs and Catholic ones. This is why the altar has both candy skulls (refers to the inevitability of death and Tzompantlis) and a cross or crosses. The Catholic church really doesn't like Día de Muertos, but after 500 years, it's given up trying to erradicate it. A Tzompantli was a  wall of racked skulls.

3. An offering/altar can be as modest or opulent as you wish, but it's not about you or showing off. It's about remembering your loved ones (We include our fur babies) and setting things that would please them. Essential items: Candles, incense (copal is used here, but any incense will do), yellow or orange Marigolds (You can substitute, if necessary), These things call the spirits home and guide them. Glasses of water to quench their thirst (It's a long trip) and salt to remind them, they no longer belong to the material world. Pan de Muerto. I realize that may be difficult to get, so improvise with some sweet bread they may have liked or if you're adventurous, I'll post a recipe for it. 

4. Other things: Food they liked. My dad loved chiles rellenos. My mom loved enchiladas. Use whatever food they loved. You can also use beer, liquor, coffee, tea, whatever they liked to drink. Also coffee and maybe something sweet for dessert. This year we will omit the food, because we seem to have been adopted by an ant colony!

5. Nov 1st is for the "little dead". The babies and children who passed on. Set up your altar on Halloween night. You should include a lot of sweets and toys.

6. Nov 6th is for the adults, who have passed on. Set up the altar on Nov 2nd.

7. A lot of people set up their offering in the cemetery on the tomb of their loved one. One place famous for it, is Mixquic.

Images are not mine.

Mixquic

Tzompantli