On November 1st and 2nd the souls of
our loved ones come back to us for two days filled with love, laughter and
appreciation. Marked by music, bright colors, and sacred traditions, Dia de los
Muertos is a special holiday that unites families and honors the departed.
Important Features:
There are many traditions and customs associated with Dia de
los Muertos. One of the most important customs is the creation of altars.
Families come together to build altars for the souls of
their loved ones. Altars are prepared in homes or at family grave-sites; they
are a place of prayer and family unity. Each element of an altar has its own
significance and meaning. The arches of an altar are representative of the
passageways between life and death while candles lit are symbols of light,
faith and hope. Candles are also lit for each lost family member; there are
four candles placed on the top level of the altar to represent the cardinal directions.
You will often see Papel
picado, colorful tissue paper, strung around altars. Family members cut the
papel picado into intricate and
beautiful designs. Each color used has its own special representation:
Black is for the Preshispanic religions and land
of the dead
Purple is from the Catholic calendar to signify
pain, suffering, grief and mourning
Pink is for celebration
White represents purity and hope
Yellow and orange symbolize the marigold, the
sun and light
Red has two different meanings; for Christians
it symbolizes the blood of Jesus.
Indigenous people use red to symbolize the
life blood of humans and animals
Flowers are also an
important piece in altars and symbolize the brevity of life. Often strewn in
garlands, marigolds are the most traditional flower found during Dia de los
Muertos. In Aztec times, it was called cempasuchil,
the flower of 400 lives and its scent leads the spirits home. You can even find
paths of marigold petals lying about the floor to guide the spirits.
Ofrendas, are offerings
placed at the altar for the spirits of our loved ones. Ofrendas are favorite items of loved ones, like favorite foods,
photos, toys, tools or instruments. You will find special treats, sweets, and
the favorite food and drinks of loved ones at each altar. But they will also
have water, salt and bread.
Water is there to quench thirst and offer
purification for spirits.
Salt is there to season the food and offer
purification, as well.
Bread represents the food needed for survival.
Celebrate and recognize other cultures:
Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful
holiday that can be celebrated by any person, regardless of religion or
background. It is intended to bring families together and rejoice in the lives
of deceased loved ones. Unlike Halloween, it is not dominated by ghosts,
ghouls, zombies and werewolves. Firmly rooted in its traditions, Dia de los
Muertos truly is a happy holiday.
Join Mesa Arts Center at our annual Dia de los Muertos Festival on Saturday October 25th and Sunday
October 26th! There will be delicious foods, a colorful mercado featuring an assortment of Dia de los Muertos merchandise, jewelry, arts and crafts. Two stages of live entertainment with a variety of excellent performing groups and much more. If
you have never celebrated Dia de los Muertos before, this is a great way to
experience it for the first time.
Come to this free family friendly
festival! We can’t wait to see you there!
By Katie Selph
