#ElDíadelosMuertos

[wonderandwanderinginmexicocity]

The Art of Remembering

“So long as we are being remembered, we remain alive.”

― Carlos Ruiz Zafón

For most of us, autumn is a contemplative season. If spring represents birth and renewal, and summer the glory and vitality of youth, then there is a wise wistfulness to the fall, of reflecting before the inevitable coming of winter and death. Being a transitory season, not quite summer and not quite winter, many cultures have viewed this time of year as a season where magical things can happen.

Halloween and the Day of the Dead are in many ways very different holidays from different places, but they are both based on this idea that this time of year is special, and that the border between worlds becomes thin and spirits can move amongst us. The ancient Celts of Ireland would leave out food and treats to try to appease the spirits that may cross over. From here it is easy to see where trick or treating evolved from, and the Celtic holiday of Samhain eventually became a major source for modern Halloween. The Aztecs believed that in the fall, spirits of loved ones could cross over, and visit us for a while. It wasn’t a time of sorrow, but a time of joy and remembering those who are dead but are not gone from our hearts. For the Aztecs, death was merely a door to another room, and we keep people alive by remembering and honoring them. These ancient beliefs underpin the modern practices of the Day of the Dead. 

El Día de los Muertos is largely celebrated, both in private homes and in public displays, by the creation of ofrendas. These offerings or altars are meant to be a physical manifestation of the remembering, complete with photos of the deceased and items that they enjoyed or used, such as candy, cigarettes, or cans of beer. There are a lot of personal and regional variations in the styles of ofrendas, but there are certain symbolic items that are placed on the ofrenda that are crucial and long predate the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico. 

One of the most important symbols of the Day of the Dead is cempasúchil, the Aztec name for the fragrant marigold flower native to Mexico. The Aztecs believed cempasúchil had a special smell that would guide the dead back to their families, so it is naturally an important part of the ofrenda. The flower is associated with Mictecacihuatl, or the Lady of the Dead, who permitted spirits to leave the underworld to commune with their families. 

There are other ancient components of the ofrenda. Ceramic or sugar skulls are included to represent the truth that death is a part of life. An important element of the altar is salt, which represents the purification of the dead after they have moved on from this life. The salt is meant to purify the souls of the ancestors, so that they are able to travel back and visit next year. Candles are included to represent hope and faith, and light the way to the altar. An important symbol of the spirit and the afterlife is the xolo. Native to Mexico and one of the few domesticated animals of the Aztecs, the breed xoloitzcuintli was believed to help the spirits of the dead cross the Chiconauhuapan river and enter the underworld, Mictlān. In ancient times, people were even buried with these dogs. But today, placing a figurine on an altar will do. On my ofrenda, my xoloitzcuintli is also an alebrije, a spirit animal that is meant to guide and protect the dead as they travel through Mictlān. A common offering that is placed on the altar is water. In ancient times and today, it is believed that that the first thing the souls of the departed ask for after arriving in the underworld is water, as they are parched from their long journey. 

In my second year living in Mexico, I decided to make my first ofrenda, in large part because I find the tradition touching and also, I hope, cathartic. In the United States, we tend to work very hard not to think about death and mortality, despite its universal inevitability. We pay a high price for these mental gymnastics: We often don’t take the necessary time to think of our loved ones who are gone, how they cared for us and made us the people we are today. As I look upon the faces of my grandparents, so young in their photos, I can’t help but wonder about their dreams and aspirations, if their lives turned out as they hoped, and what it must have been like to live through the Great Depression and World War II. El Día de los Muertos is not supposed to be a sad day, but a celebration, and yet I can’t help feeling bittersweet about the whole experience. These were people I loved. People who made me feel safe and loved. I am sad they are gone. But the Day of the Dead has given me the opportunity to honor them and be grateful. And maybe invite them to visit for a while. 

#halloween #dayofthedead #thedayofthedead #ofrenda #altar #eldiadelosmuertos #diadelosmuertos #travelgram #mexico #México #culturamexicana #ElDíadelosMuertos #DíadelosMuertos #ofrendas #tradicionmexicana #autumn #fall

[citgny]

🏳️‍⚧️ Lorena Borjas 🏳️‍⚧️ Hoy en recordación a #LorenaBorjas ❤️✨ líder, amiga, madre trans. Hoy de manera oficial en la celebración de #ElDíaDeLosMuertos, se #Inauguró la exposición en memoria de Lorena ✊🏽⭐️ un fuerte trabajo y compromiso de nuestras compañeres y colegas del @queensmuseum #Gracias por darle un espacio en tu casa a una de tus #hijas y líder comunitaria de Queens. Un merecido reconocimiento para Lorena Borjas la Madre Trans de #Queens. #LorenaPorSiempre ¡Voy a llevarlo tan lejos como pueda! Lorena Borjas Activista, guerrera, madre de tantos Puedes visitar la exposición desde el # miércoles al # sábado 12pm hasta las 5pm — Today in remembrance of #LorenaBorjas ❤️✨ leader, friend, trans mother. Today officially in the celebration of #DayOfTheDead, the exhibition in memory of Lorena was it's #open ✊🏽⭐️ a strong work and commitment of our colleagues and colleagues of the @queensmuseum #Thank you for giving a space in your home to one of your #daughters and community leader from Queens. A deserved recognition for Lorena Borjas, the Trans Mother of #Queens. #LorenaForever I'm going to take it as far as I can! Lorena Borjas An Activist, a Warrior, a Mother to So Many You can visit the exhibition from #Wednesday to #Saturday 12 until 5pm #translivesmatter #transgender #transisbeautifull #transpower #transition #transrights #transcommunity (at Queens Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVod-asP77y/?utm_medium=tumblr

#lorenaborjas #eldíadelosmuertos #inauguró #gracias #hijas #queens #lorenaporsiempre #dayofthedead #open #thank #daughters #lorenaforever #wednesday #saturday #translivesmatter #transgender #transisbeautifull #transpower #transition #transrights #transcommunity

[auxeinmedical]

Celebrating memories of loved ones can be as joyful as creating and living them!  Mexico's tradition of 'El Día de Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)' demonstrates love and respect for deceased family members.  Our office in Mexico all decked up to pay homage. #ElDíaDeLosMuertos #TheDayOfTheDead #Love #Respect #Mexico #MexicanLife #MexicanColor #MexicanTraidition #Celebrate #Life #DayOfTheDeadDecor #Decor https://www.instagram.com/p/CHGGdAVJys2/?igshid=18xalcb4qwj7y

#eldíadelosmuertos #thedayofthedead #love #respect #mexico #mexicanlife #mexicancolor #mexicantraidition #celebrate #life #dayofthedeaddecor #decor

[nozomiradio]

Nozomi Radio y todo su equipo traen para ti un fin de semana lleno de sorpresas y buenos recuerdos. No te pierdas la programación especial de tus locutores favoritos dónde podrás disfrutar de relatos, cuentos, diversión y recuerdos de aquellos que ya no están y que están más presentes que nunca. Programación Sabado 31 Octubre 11:00 a.m Cuentos de Pat 04:00 p.m Before del After (Fiesta de disfraces) Domingo 1 Noviembre 12:00 p.m Takeshi (Trasmisión especial) 04:00 p.m Tómate un Relax (A un paso de nuestros antepasados) Facebook Live 07:00 p.m Luna Oscura (Trasmisión Especial) Lunes 2 Noviembre 09:00 a.m Retroando (Edición especial de Día de Muertos) 07:00 p.m Alma Radio Ecos de la educación (Celebrando tradiciones) No te pierdas y disfruta de buena vibra con tu radio preferida www.nozomiradio.com #nozomiradio #nozomiradiomix #follow #me #happy #heart #happier #streaming #music #radioonline #digitalradio #heart #family #friends #love #UnaEmocionQueNuncaMuere #love #masvivoquenunca #diademuertos #eldíadelosmuertos #muertos #recordaresvivir #lacalaca #calaverita https://www.instagram.com/p/CHA8GUshTcc/?igshid=3v1q2jwtgjs6

#nozomiradio #nozomiradiomix #follow #me #happy #heart #happier #streaming #music #radioonline #digitalradio #family #friends #love #unaemocionquenuncamuere #masvivoquenunca #diademuertos #eldíadelosmuertos #muertos #recordaresvivir #lacalaca #calaverita

[sublimeroadstudentfriend]

Hoy en el blog, os hablamos de ¡Adiós calavera! De @tranjisgames uno de nuestros #juegosdemesa favoritos para jugar en pareja, sobretodo por qué al existir tantas modalidades de juego, nunca jugarás 2 partidas iguales 😉 • 💀 ¿Lo conocéis? Cómo podéis ver por su estética, trata sobre #eldíadelosmuertos, fiesta tradicional que se celebra en #México (igual lo tenéis más fresco con la película de #Coco) •💀 #catrinas #tradiciones #notodoesHalloween #boardgames #juegosparados #apartirde8años #estrategia #hoyjugamos #instageek #instagame #recomendaciones #ideaspararegalar #ideas #paraniñosyparapadres #madresdesterradas https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Son3ZFPrd/?igshid=1jcr2dhiexx01

#juegosdemesa #eldíadelosmuertos #méxico #coco #catrinas #tradiciones #notodoeshalloween #boardgames #juegosparados #apartirde8años #estrategia #hoyjugamos #instageek #instagame #recomendaciones #ideaspararegalar #ideas #paraniñosyparapadres #madresdesterradas

[katienumi]

image 1: La Calvera Garbancera by José Luis Posada image 2: section of mural Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda by Diego Rivera #catrina #eldíadelosmuertos #calaveragarbancera https://www.instagram.com/p/BpTrwEJFJwf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s52f4omiziia

#catrina #eldíadelosmuertos #calaveragarbancera

[alexistango]

Tarde pero seguro #ElDíaDeLosMuertos

#eldíadelosmuertos

[cecisierrae]

El mejor video de Día De Muertos que he visto hasta ahora 

#díademuertos #mexico #visitmexico #dayofthedead #day of the departed #catrinas #diadelosmuertos #diademuertos #2denoviembre #CatrinasStyle #eldíadelosmuertos #méxico #desfile #tradiciones #cultura #sincretismo #patrimonioculturaldelahumanidad #unesco #video #bestvideo #elmejorvideo #travelmexico

[streetrobots]

Chakal Tois x Shiffa - Don Trino "Animation Edition Shine in the dark!" Vinyl Figure

Chakal Tois x Shiffa – Don Trino “Animation Edition Shine in the dark!” Vinyl Figure

Emmanuel Pérez del Río are happy to introduce you to Don Trino! The first art toy designed by @DaShiffaand produced by Chakaltois. Today, announced the second version of Don Trino “Animation Edition Shine in the dark!” This Collectible figure painted by hand vinyl toy of 8.5″ tall, produced completely in Mexico, articulated of the head and the right arm and includes a small skull to request…

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#‎arttoy‬ ‪ #Chakaltois #collection #Díademuertos #DonTrino #ElDíaDeLosMuertos #hechoenmexico #shiffa #urbantoy #vinyl #vinyltoy

[itsthesmallstuf]

Happy Halloween, Samhain, El Dia De Los Muertos and anything I missed! #halloween #halloweenfacepaint #halloweencostume #samhajn #eldiadelosmuertos #eldíadelosmuertos #candyday #honoryourlovedones — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/34g9gFN

#Instagram #IFTTT

[anabelcaramelo-blog]

#lacalaca#aliceinzombieland#eldíadelosmuertos#halloween😱💀🎃