Dreams Resorts & Spas in Mexico will be celebrating the national Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos over the next two days. Throughout Mexico people celebrate Dia de los Muertos, known in English as Day of the Dead, as a time when family and friends gather together to pray and pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed.
This holiday is celebrated each year on November 1-2 in conjunction with two Roman Catholic holidays: All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. On November 1, the souls of deceased children are remembered for Dia de los Muertos with special colorful designs on traditional altars. On November 2, the souls of adults are honored with a variety of rituals on for Dia de los Muertos. Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico are a unique blend of Christianity and pre-Hispanic traditions and beliefs.
Building and decorating altars to honor the dead is the most common Day of the Dead tradition. Altars, found in both churches and homes, are adorned with many gifts. Traditional altar offerings include food, handmade crafts, symbolic sugar skulls and marigolds.
- Sugar skulls and marigolds are placed at altars for Day of the Dead.
Sugar skulls are small Mexican folk art sculptures made using common household ingredients like powdered sugar, egg whites, corn starch, corn syrup and vanilla. The sculptures are embellished with colorful icing and sparkling touches. Marigolds are a yellow flower used to celebrate the Day of the Dead because they are known in Mexico as flor de muertos, or flower of the dead. Bread is also a common item left on altars. A sweet type of bread is made specially for the holiday called pan de muertos, or bread of the dead. This bread is commonly sold in markets in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
These traditions vary from region to region in Mexico, but the philosophy behind the holiday remains constant. Day of the Dead festivities are believed to bring life to the memory of loved ones who have passed. We hope you get a chance to take part in celebrating this uniquely Mexican holiday yourself as a guest at Dreams Resorts & Spas!
Altar Decorated for Day of the Dead
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