What is Día de Los Muertos
Día de Los Muertos is a day to remember and honor the love ones who have passed. This is accomplished with a celebration as their belief is that death is not the end but the start of a new journey. Día de Los Muertos starts on the evening of October 31st and runs through November 2nd and during this time it is believed that deceased loved ones will be able to comeback to this world to visit the living. One important part of the celebration is the reenforcing of family ties and this can be seen in the traditions practiced. To celebrate, a typical day starts by cooking food that will be brought to the cemetery for a deceased family member. The food is typically a favorite of the deceased family member and is used to help them partake in the voyage to the after life. The food also can be shared with other members of the community who travel door to door typically playing Mariachis music. Songs and art help make Día de Los Muertos a more cheerful time filled with humor and fun. Another way to show appreciation for love ones who have passed away is by purchasing gifts. This tradition is very common for parents who have had a child pass away as parents buy their favorite toys and sometimes launch fireworks to show them the way home. Each evening the entire family will gather at the cemetery to give their ofrenda (offerings) of food and gifts they brought to their deceased loved ones. While at the cemetery they will honor their loved ones by decorating their grave. It is also customary for people to dress up in costumes typically themed around skeletons.
Families create altars for loved ones at their homes for when they come back to visit this world during Día de Los Muertos. Typically altars will have photos of the deceased, food, candles, sugar skulls, marigold flowers and other personalized trinkets.
Symbols
Marigold are the flowers traditionally used for Día de Los Muertos. Their bright color and strong sweet sent are used as a guide to the deceased their families house.
A common food baked during Día de Los Muertos is called pan de muerto or dead bread. It is a sweet egg bread and has one of the oldest saying surrounding the holiday of "El muerto al hoyo y el vivo al bollo", this means, "To the grave with the dead and bread to the living."
Calaveras, or better known as sugar candy skulls are a common sight as well. They are gifts to the deceased usually placed on the altar as decoration. Calaveras is an extremely common gift to purchase during the event and is why they are extremely common.