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| Oh hi my peeps yup this is about day of the dead so go eat an apple!!!!! and then die cause you choked on it!!!!!!!! lol | |||
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| {{redirect|Dia De Los Muertos}} | |||
| ] and ]]] | |||
| The '''Day of the Dead''' (''Día de los Difuntos'' or ''Día de los Muertos'' in ]) is a holiday celebrated in many parts of the world, typically on ] (]) and ] (]). | |||
| GO NOW!!!!!! | |||
| The Day of the Dead is also celebrated to a lesser extent in other ]n countries; for example, it is a public holiday in ], where many Brazilians celebrate it by visiting cemeteries and churches. The holiday is also observed in the ]. Observance of the holiday has spread to ] communities in the ], where in some locations, the traditions are being extended. Similarly-themed celebrations also appear in some ] and ] culture. | |||
| Though the subject matter may be considered morbid from the perspective of some other cultures, celebrants typically approach the Day of the Dead joyfully, and though it occurs at the same time as ], ] and ], the traditional mood is much brighter with emphasis on celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life; the belief is not that death is the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life. | |||
| ==Observance in Mexico== | |||
| ===Origins=== | |||
| The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500–3000 years.<ref></ref> In the post-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. | |||
| The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the ], about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess ],<ref>Salvador, R. J. (2003). What Do Mexicans Celebrate On The Day Of The Dead? Pp. 75-76, IN ''Death and Bereavement in the Americas''. Death, Value And Meaning Series, Vol. II. Morgan, J. D. And P. Laungani (Eds.) Baywood Publishing Co., Amityville, New York. Available online at: </ref> known as the "Lady of the Dead", corresponding to the modern ]. | |||
| In most regions of Mexico November 1st honors deceased children and infants whereas deceased adults are honored on November 2nd.<ref>{{cite web | last = Palfrey | first = Dale | title = The Day of the Dead | work = Mexico Connect | date = 1995 | url = http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/muertos.html | accessdate = 2007-07-14 }}</ref> | |||
| ===Beliefs=== | |||
| ] | |||
| <br>Some Mexicans feel that death is a special occasion, but with elements of celebration, because the soul is passing into another life. Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the period of ] and ], families usually clean and decorate the graves.<ref name=Salvador> Salvador (2030)</ref> Most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ''ofrendas'', or offerings, which often include orange ] called "cempasuchil", originally named ''cempaxochitl'', ] for "twenty flowers", in modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto", Spanish for "Flower of the Dead". These flowers are thought to attract ]s of the dead to the offerings. | |||
| Toys are brought for dead children (''los angelitos'', or little angels), and bottles of ], ], ] or ] for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. ''Ofrendas'' are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, ] ("bread of the dead") or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased.<ref name =Salvador> </ref> Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ''ofrenda'' food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivity, they believe it lacks nutritional value. The pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of ], ] and ], people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. | |||
| Some families build ]s or small ]s in their homes.<ref name=Salvador> Salvador (2003)</ref> These altars usually have the ], statues or pictures of the ], pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, and scores of candles. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing so when they dance the dead will wake up because of the noise. Some will dress up as the deceased. | |||
| Public schools at all levels build altars with offerings, usually omitting the religious symbols. Government offices usually have at least a small altar, as this holiday is seen as important to the Mexican heritage. <br> | |||
| Those with writing talent sometimes create short poems, called "calaveras" ("skulls"), mocking ]s of friends, sometimes with things they used to do in life. This custom originated in the ]-], after a newspaper published a poem narrating a dream of a cemetery in the future, "and all of us were dead", proceeding to "read" the tombstones. ]s dedicate calaveras to public figures, with ]s of ]s in the style of ]. ] presentations of '']'' by ] (1817–1893) are also traditional on this day. | |||
| ] | |||
| A common ] of the holiday is the skull (colloquially called '']''), which celebrants represent in ]s, called '']s'' (colloquial term for "skeleton"), and foods such as sugar skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both the living and the dead. Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet ] bread made in various shapes, from plain rounds to skulls and ]s often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones. | |||
| ] | |||
| <br> | |||
| The traditions and activities that take place in celebration of the Day of the Dead are not universal and often vary from town to town. For example, in the town of ] on the ] in ] the tradition is very different if the deceased is a child rather than an adult. On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the ] set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, ''pan de muerto'', a cross, a Rosary (used to ask the Virgin Mary to pray for them) and candles. This is meant to celebrate the child’s life, in respect and appreciation for the parents. There is also dancing with colorful costumes, often with skull-shaped masks and devil masks in the plaza or garden of the town. At midnight on November 2, the people light candles and ride winged boats called mariposas (Spanish for "butterfly") to Janitzio, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there. | |||
| In contrast, the town of ], north of ] in the State of ] opens its doors to visitors in exchange for 'veladoras' (small wax candles) to show respect for the recently dead. In return, the visitors receive ] and 'atole'. This is only done by the owners of the house where somebody in the household has died in the previous year. Many people of the surrounding areas arrive early to eat for free and enjoy the elaborate altars set up to receive the visitors from 'Mictlán'. | |||
| In some parts of the country, children in costumes roam the streets, asking passersby for a ''calaverita'', a small gift of money; they don't knock on people's doors. | |||
| Some people believe that possessing "dia de los muertos" items can bring good luck. Many people get tatoos or have dolls of the dead to carry with them | |||
| ==Observances outside Mexico== | |||
| ] | |||
| ===United States=== | |||
| In many U.S. communities with immigrants from Mexico, Day of the Dead celebrations are held, very similar to those held in Mexico. In some of these communities, such as in ]<ref> </ref> and ],<ref></ref> the celebrations tend to be mostly traditional. For example, the All Souls’ Procession has been an annual ] rite since 1990. It was begun by artist Susan Kay Johnson as a way to process her feelings about her father’s death. She combined elements of traditional Dia de los Muertos celebrations with those of pagan harvest festivals. The first procession had 35 participants but the 2005 process had over 7000. The parade progresses from Fourth Avenue to the downtown Tucson area, with people in masks, carrying signs honouring the dead and an urn in which people can put slips of paper with prayers on them to be burned.<ref>{{cite journal | last =White | first = Erin | title = All Souls Procession | journal = ] | pages = 1-20 | date = ] 5 ] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-153859362.html | accessdate = 21-09-2007}}</ref> | |||
| In other communities, interactions between Mexican traditions and American culture are resulting in celebrations in which Mexican traditions are being extended to make artistic or sometimes political statements. For example, in ], the ] Mexican-American cultural center presents an annual Day of the Dead celebration, that includes both traditional and political elements, such as altars to honor the victims of the ] highlighting the high casualty rate among Latino soldiers. An updated, inter-cultural version of the Day of the Dead is also evolving at a cemetery near ].<ref> ''Los Angeles Times'' October 18, 2006; accessed November 26, 2006.</ref> There, in a mixture of Mexican traditions and Hollywood hip, conventional altars are set up side-by-side with altars to ] and ]. Colorful native dancers and music intermix with ]ists, while sly ] play on traditional themes. | |||
| Similar traditional and inter-cultural updating of Mexican celebrations is occurring in ],<ref>See , and see .</ref> for example through the ], ], ], ], and in ], where skeletal celebrants on stilts, novelty bicycles, and skis parade through town.<ref> </ref> It also occurs annually at historic Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Sponsored by Forest Hills Educational Trust and the folkloric performance group La Piňata, the Day of the Dead celebration celebrates the cycle of life and death. People bring offerings of flowers, photos, mementos, and food for their departed loved ones which they place at an elaborately and colorfully decorated altar. A program of traditional music and dance also accompanies the community event. | |||
| ===Europe=== | |||
| Observance of a Mexican-style Day of the Dead has spread to Europe as well. In ], for example, local citizens celebrate the Day of the Dead with masks, candles and sugar skulls.<ref>.</ref> | |||
| ===Similar celebrations=== | |||
| ====Guatemala==== | |||
| ]n celebrations of the Day of the Dead are highlighted by the construction and flying of giant kites<ref></ref> in addition to the traditional visits to gravesites of ancestors. A big event also is the consumption of ] that is made only for this day during the whole year.<ref> Accessed June 11, 2007.</ref> | |||
| ====Brazil==== | |||
| The Brazilian public holiday of "Finados" (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 2. Similar to other Day of the Dead celebrations, people go to cemeteries and churches, with flowers, candles, and prayer. The celebration is intended to be positive, to celebrate those who are deceased. | |||
| ====Philippines==== | |||
| In the ], it is called ''Araw ng mga Patay'' (Day of the Dead), ''Todos Los Santos'' or ''Undas'' (the latter two due to the fact that this holiday is celebrated on ], All Saints Day), designated by the ]), and has more of a "family reunion" atmosphere. It is said to be an "opportunity to be with" the departed and is done in a somewhat solemn way. Tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Since it is supposed to be about spending time with dead relatives, families usually camp in cemeteries, and sometimes spend a night or two near their relatives' tombs. Card games, eating, drinking, singing and dancing are common activities in the cemetery, probably to alleviate boredom. It is considered a very important holiday by many Filipinos (after ] and ]), and additional days are normally given as special nonworking holidays (but only ] is a regular holiday). | |||
| ====Haiti==== | |||
| In ], ] traditions mix with ] Day of the Dead observances, as, for example, loud drums and music are played at all-night celebrations at cemeteries to waken ], the god of the dead, and his mischievous family of offspring, the Gede.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====Europe==== | |||
| In many countries with a Roman Catholic heritage, ] and ] have long been holidays where people take the day off work, go to cemeteries | |||
| with candles and flowers, and give presents to children, usually sweets and toys.<ref></ref> In ] and ], ''ofrendas'' (offerings) are made on this day. In Spain, the play '']'' is traditionally performed. In ], ], ], ], ] and ], people bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives. In ],<ref> Accessed June 11, 2007. </ref> ],<ref> . Accessed June 11, 2007. </ref> ],<ref> . Accessed June 11, 2007. </ref> ],<ref> . Accessed June 11, 2007</ref> ],<ref>. Accessed June 11, 2007.</ref> ],<ref>. Accessed June 11, 2007.</ref> ] and ], the tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives.In ], cakes are left for them on the table and the room kept warm for their comfort. In ], people flock to the cemeteries at nightfall to kneel, bareheaded, at the graves of their loved ones, and to anoint the hollow of the ] with ] or to pour libations of ] on it. At bedtime, the supper is left on the table for the souls.<ref> See ], ].</ref> | |||
| ====Japan==== | |||
| The ] ({{nihongo|'''O-bon'''|お盆}} or only {{nihongo|'''Bon'''|盆}} is a ]ese ] holiday to honor the departed ]s of one's ]s. This Buddhist festival has evolved into a ] holiday during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. Traditionally including a ] festival, it has existed in ] for more than 500 years. This holiday is three days in August. | |||
| ====Korea==== | |||
| In ], '']'' is a major traditional holiday, also called Hankawi (한가위,中秋节). People go where the spirits of one's ancestors are enshrined, and perform ancestral worship rituals early in the morning; they visit the tombs of immediate ancestors to trim plants and clean the area around the tomb, and offer food, drink, and crops to their ancestors. | |||
| ====Chinese beliefs==== | |||
| The ] ({{zh-tsp|t=清明節|s=清明节|p=qīng míng jié}}) is a ] usually occurring around ] of the ]. Along with ] on the ninth day of the ninth month in the ], it is a time to tend to the graves of departed ones. In addition, in the Chinese tradition, the seventh month in the Chinese calendar is called the ] (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits come out from the underworld to visit earth. | |||
| ====Nepal==== | |||
| During the Nepali holiday of ''Gai Jatra'' ("Cow Pilgrimage") every family where a family member died during the previous year makes a construction of bamboo branches, cloth, paper decorations and portraits of the deceased, called a "gai." Traditionally, a cow leads the spirits of the dead into the next land. Depending on local custom, either an actual live cow, or a construct representing a cow may be used. The festival is also a time to dress up in costume, including costumes involving political comments and satire.<ref>. Accessed June 11, 2007 </ref> | |||
| ====African cultures==== | |||
| In some cultures in ], visits to the graves of ancestors, the leaving of food and gifts, and the asking of protection, serve as important parts of traditional rituals. One example of this is the ritual that occurs just before the beginning of hunting. season.<ref>; </ref> | |||
| == In fiction == | |||
| * The novel '']'' (1947) by ] takes place in on this day in a fictionalized ]. | |||
| * Ray Bradbury's novel ] (1972) includes an explanation of the holiday as part of a greater worldwide tradition, and features a Mexican sugar skull as a key plot device. | |||
| * The PC game ] is inspired by the Day of the Dead and features imagery greatly drawn from the festival including characters reminiscent of the skeletal ] figures. | |||
| * ]'s novel ''Days Of The Dead'' (2003) sets its climax on this day in ]. | |||
| * Although ]'s '']'' has no clear ties to the holiday, using the name incidentally (the title plays off the preceding films ''Night of the Living Dead'' and ''Dawn of the Dead''), there are a few connections. Aside from the film's theme of resurrection of the dead, there are references to the fact that with the exception of the final scene, the entire film is set within the first two days of November. | |||
| * In the film version of "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), some traditional day-of-the-dead sugar skulls can be seen in storage shelves while Harry enters the candy store Honeydukes through the secret passage. This is an inside joke as the director of the movie is mexican Alfonso Cuarón. | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == Notes == | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| == Further reading == | |||
| * Brandes, Stanley. “The Day of the Dead, Halloween, and the Quest for Mexican National Identity.” Journal of American Folklore 442 (1998) : 359-80. | |||
| * Brandes, Stanley. “Sugar, Colonialism, and Death: On the Origins of Mexico’s Day of the Dead” Comparative Studies in Sociology and History 39.2 (1997): 270-299 | |||
| * Brandes, Stanly. “Iconogaphy in Mexico’s Day of the Dead.” Ethnohistory 45.2(1998):181-218 | |||
| * Carmichael, Elizabeth. Sayer, Chloe. The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico. Great Britain: The Bath Press, 1991. | |||
| * Conklin, Paul. “Death Takes A Holiday.” U.S. Catholic 66 (2001) : 38-41. | |||
| * Garcia-Rivera, Alex. “Death Takes a Holiday.” U.S. Catholic 62 (1997) : 50. | |||
| * Roy, Ann. “A Crack Between the Worlds.” Commonwealth 122 (1995) : 13-16 | |||
| * Shawn D. Haley and Curt Fukuda DAY OF THE DEAD: When Two Worlds Meet in Oaxaca, Berhahn Books, 2004. | |||
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Revision as of 09:59, 18 October 2007
Oh hi my peeps yup this is about day of the dead so go eat an apple!!!!! and then die cause you choked on it!!!!!!!! lol
GO NOW!!!!!!