Day of the Dead: Difference between revisions

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	{{otheruses}} {{redirect\|Dia De Los Muertos}}
	The '''Day of the Dead''' (''Día de los Muertos'', ''Día de los Difuntos'' or ''Día de Muertos'' in ]) is an ancient Aztec celebration of the memory of deceased ancestors that is celebrated on ] (]) and ] (]).

	The holiday is especially popular in Mexico where it is a national ], and is celebrated in the ], in ] communities in the ], and to a lesser extent, in other ] countries. It is a public holiday in ], where many Brazilians celebrate it by visiting cemeteries and churches, bringing flowers, lighting candles and praying.

	Though the subject matter may be considered morbid from the ] perspective, Mexicans celebrate 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.

	==Origins==


	Some assure that the tradition of the festival is mixed with the pre-Hispanic custom to bury their dead with objects, food and offerings for its trip to the other life. The tradition is born of the belief that when dying, the people happen to the kingdom of Mictlán, where must be a time later to go to the sky or Tlalocan. For the trip, our dear beings need food and water for the way; veladoras to illuminate itself; currencies, to pay the ferryman who crosses them by the river, before arriving at Mictlán and a thorny wood to drive away the devil.

	== Beliefs and customs ==



	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. Most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ''ofrendas'', or offerings, which often include orange ] called ''Flor de Muerto'', Spanish for "flower of the dead", or ''zempoalxochitl'', ] for "twenty-flower", a term that has been carried into modern Mexican Spanish as ''cempazúchil'' which 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, pan de muerto or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. 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 wealthier families do build ]s or small ]s in their homes. 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.

	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.

	Those with writing talent sometimes create "calaveras" – short poems mocking ]s of friends. This custom originated in the 18th-19th century, 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 Candy Skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Other holiday foods include ''pan de muerto'' (or "bread of the dead"), a sweet ] bread made in various shapes, from plain rounds to skulls and ]s often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones.

	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 pray to the Virgin Mary) 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 Cuiseo, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there.

	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.

	===Philippines===
	In the Philippines, it is called ''Araw ng mga Patay'' (Day of the Dead), ''Undas'' or ''Todos Los Santos'' (since 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's 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).

	===Chinese beliefs===
	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 under world to visit earth.

	==See also==
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	Big melons
	davids balls ON FIRE!!!!!

	==External links==
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	* [http://www.pbase.com/ohquepretty/muerto_style_art&view=slideshow View samples of Muerto
	* [http://www.wowomg.com
	styled art work
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	== from local Los Angeles Artist.]
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	salad!
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Revision as of 15:44, 25 October 2006

jdahf; ksdjhf alflskadf