Day of the dead: past and present

 Past and present of the Day of the Death. By Vanesa.




Day of the death is a traditional Mexican festival celebrated every  last week of October  untill November 1st and  2nd every year, same as the end of the growing season, created by the prehispanic culture similarly as the Spanish people.

Ancient people, such as the Aztecas and Mayas, used to believe in the life after death, and consider  death as a natural life cycle, as well as believe deceased people are not gone yet, and live between them. To honour those who have passed away ancients would go to the cemetery to spend the night in November 1st and 2nd and offer a large feast called ofrenda or altar, which include  their favourite meal, fruit, soda, treat, clothes, same as bright candles to guide their path, colourful crafts and the leafy, orange, aromatic traditional flower; cempasúchil, which is only grown in that time of the year. 

In contrast to the past this celebration has become a Mexican symbol, moreover, Mexicans create a beautiful and colourful Catrina  to make the dead pshisical and not be afraid of it,  and increased the magnitude of the feelings, nowadays is celebrated joy more than mourning. Additionally, families who celebrate this festival with recent loss, feel the sadness less than the first day, some people say they feel the warm presence of their loved ones more on those festive days.

Different from the past Mexicans have adapted the tradition into a big large festival  all around the country and around the world.

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