Day of the Death

For years, the Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Death, has been one of the most important celebrations for Mexican people where they remember their loved ones who passed away.

Mexicans, we celebrate this day in a traditional mood at the end of October, starting on the 28th (but it started on the 27th were pets arrived early to guide the souls of the family members) until November 2nd, all the spirits of relatives that passed away come to the ofrendas. These days are just part of all the celebration that lasts one week.

The ofrendas are composed of several things.

1. The most important is the food and drinks that the dead relative used to like,
2. A relative’s photo is essential to show to whom the ofrenda is,
3. Pan de Muerto (Bread of the death). It is a mix between the Spanish people and the natives, they used to represent their relatives with their bones, but that had to change when the priests started evangelizing. The traditions now represent bones with bread.
   The top is the skull, and the small things are the arms and legs. The bread represents the bones of the human body and is a way to pay respect that we all become part of a cycle; the bread tastes so good and is so fluffy that it goes well with everything,
   
4. Candles. Each candle is for a relative that passed away. Personal Ofrendas are light with many candles the family wants to show because of the relatives or for decoration,
5. Cempasúchil (Marigold). The essence of the Cempasúchil guides the spirits from the graveyard to the house of the living. Flowers represent the fugacity of life,
6. Water and salt. Both elements are essential for the spirits if they run out during their trip. Water is also to clean and purify the souls,
7. Papel Picado is called too tissue paper. Drawings and forms start with the design transformed with the craftsman’s tools to create elaborate designs. A tradition that began in the XIX century in a town called Huixcolotla, near the state of Puebla. Their crafts decorate the celebrations that take place in Mexico and some companies,
8. Incense, Copal. Burned to elevate prayers to god and guide the souls to their correspondent home,
9. Levels, some for the size of the ofrenda, could be three or seven. The seven levels represent the stages of the underworld of what Mexicas believed and is a tradition that still lives in the new ofrendas,
10. Saints and crucifixes. Also, the ofrenda on the main level.

The day of the Dead celebration differs in each state of Mexico. Each state has the same festival, but the details make the day of the dead unique; some have parades, others guide tours, but in some, the main event is to go to the graveyard and decorate the tombs of their relatives that passed away.

Like Oaxaca, one of the central states where they celebrate their dead, going to the graveyard on November 1st, staying awake all day, they return to their house to receive their relatives. On the morning of November 2nd, prepare all their food in their home—then go back to the graveyard to say goodbye.

The parade of Mexico City started on 2016 for the movie Spectre of 007; it is crucial to the city and citizens of Mexico.

Name some states and things you can do during the celebration; each state has different customs to celebrate the day of the dead. There are various activities that you will love, and you will find interesting. So make a list of what is most important to experience and go there and enjoy the celebration.