With all the talk of Halloween, I thought I’d look at another celebration that takes place around the same time. Which of course led to me researching sugar skulls for possible tattoo ideas…but that’s a whole different post!
Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. The most significant difference between this time and Halloween, in my opinion at least, is that Dia de los Muertos celebrates the dead. It’s not a day to be scared of. There’s no contest to see who can make the scariest costume. I think that’s what is so intriguing to me.
Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican originated holiday. Started by the Aztecs and overseen by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. There are parades, decorations placed at graveyards, and parties. Sometimes altars will be built out of honor and they’ll have artifacts that represent the deceased.
The creative side of me loves all of the bright colors that are used. The detailed and intricate paintings, carvings, and designs are breathtaking. I’m in awe at the imagination necessary to come up with some of the items that they do.
Here are just a few things you might see during a Dia de los Muertos celebration:
What about you? Do you celebrate Halloween? Day of the Dead? Another holiday around this time of year?
Resources:
About.com
AZ Central
Wikipedia
Spellbound Scribes 
Sounds like Dios de los Meurtos is another traditional holiday co-opted by the Catholic church. I wonder when the Aztecs celebrated it, or if the 11/1-2 dates were a church thing (All Souls & All Saints Days). It’s a cool holiday, and like you, I love the traditional art and decoration that goes along with it.
Liv,
From what I saw this is a celebration that’s been going on for at least 3,000 years. It previously was celebrated on the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, but it was changed to Nov 1/2 by the Spaniards.
I celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (I’m Mexican and my imprint is called Sugar Skull Books!) the celebration mocks death: we are not afraid as who we are in life is who we are in death. Unlike All Souls and All Saints Day, we don’t just remember our loved ones, we celebrate WITH them as we believe their spirits come back to visit. Hence all the ofresas (offerings) when celebrating at the gravesites.
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