Dia de los Muertos is a wonderul cultural holiday that every genealogist can get behind! What’s not to love about visiting your ancestors grave and honoring them with a special remembrance?
WHAT IS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS?
Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead, is a Mexican holiday, typically celebrated on November 1st-2nd . Other largely Catholic areas of the world may celebrate under the association of All Saints Day. One can find these celebrations throughout Latin America, Brazil, Spain and The Philippines. Dia de los Muertos is NOT Mexican Halloween.
DID YOU KNOW? Cultures have been celebrating this day for over 3000 years!
HOW DO THEY CELEBRATE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS?
During Day of the Dead, family members will visit the cemetery and decorate the graves of their departed loved ones. They will leave little gifts like favorite foods and drinks, poems, trinkets, candy and more. Building of Ofrenda, or altars, are done in homes and cemeteries. According to National Geographic , “These aren’t altars for worshipping; rather, they’re meant to welcome spirits back to the realm of the living... As such, they’re loaded with offerings—water to quench thirst after the long journey, food, family photos, and a candle for each dead relative. If one of the spirits is a child, you might find small toys on the altar. . Scattered from altar to gravesite, marigold petals guide wandering souls back to their place of rest.”
Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar, praying and telling stories about their deceased loved ones. Attendees dance, and they have noisemakers and make music so the ruckus will wake the dead, and their ancestors can join the celebration and stay close! Some will dress up as the deceased and paint their faces in a traditional skull design. Above all, it is happiness, color, dancing, singing, storytelling, food and love all rolled into one.
INCORPORATING THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS WHEN WE ARE DOING OUR FAMILY HISTORY
In these cultures the dead are still considered part of the community, they are kept alive in spirit through memories and remembrance. Many families spend the year gathering the memorabilia and photos, writing stories, planning food, making and purchasing items in preparation for this one special day. It may be helpful to note that this is NOT meant to be a day of sadness, On the contrary! It is community and feeling close to those who have gone on before. It’s keeping memories alive.
So how can you celebrate without insensitive cultural appropriation? How can you participate without it turning into an excuse to drink and rabble rouse? (looking right at you Cinco de Mayo, St Patricks Day and Mardi Gras)
IDEAS FOR YOUR PERSONAL CELEBRATIONS
- First : go to the cemetery and visit your ancestors graves. Clean around, pull weeds, bring flowers to decorate.
- Second : pull out photos and talk about your ancestors. Tell stories and read their journals, it’s okay to laugh and be happy.
- Third: organize and clean any heirlooms, telling the history and stories behind those precious objects. Share these objects and stories with your family members/
- fourth: listen to their favorite music or eat their favorite foods.
- fifth: make a traditional family recipe and share it with your loved ones.
- sixth: set up an altar in your home and celebrate your lost family members. Just remember, this is not a time to mourn. It is a time to celebrate the life of your departed loved one in a positive and spiritual way. (from dayofthedead.holiday)
In conclusion, it is important to remember that Día de los Muertos is all about joyfully celebrating the lives of your loved ones that have deceased. May the joyful spirit of Dia de los Muertos fill your day every day, and not just on November 1st.
