The day of the death

By Lina Sánchez Alvarado

The death is for the majority of the people a synonym of sadness and goodbyes. However, in Mexico is an opportunity to pay tribute for your family and friends who are dead. I have never been in México but through the photos of this day, I can feel that is a special holiday. The Mexicans would rather remember their dead relatives with food and humor. As usual, this day they were praying for the souls until the dinner began. In this way, the souls of the dead people will be able to have a better spiritual journey. In essence, The day of the death is a set of beliefs and customs, that we are going to present in the next paragraphs. The Katrina’s skull, the symbol of this day, will be another topic. You had better read this article before going to México. Then you won’t have a bad experience. You don’t miss this complete guide about the death.

The popular belief about this day is that the deceased have divine permission to visit friends and relatives on earth. In this way, the dead people will be able to enjoy again the pleasures of life. As an illustration, the families have meeting in the cemetery to pray and remember their relatives who died. The Mexican’s belief says that the people go to cemeteries to be with the souls. Overall, the Mexicans would rather take the death with humor and celebrate it like part of the life. This day has Aztec’s belief: the death is one part in the cycle of existence. Likewise, in México the people have customs that go according to these beliefs.

The Mexican customs about this day are really picturesque. During the three-day period families use to clean and decorate graves. Second, the families built altars with sugar skulls, marigolds and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. Some catholic people pray around the graves and it is customary to leave possessions of the deceased at the cemetery. In some towns, the people will be able to celebrate this festival for a week. It is sure a national celebration in México and the Katrina’s skull is its main symbol ¿Don’t you know it?

In particular, Katrina’s skull is a female skeleton dressed only with an elegant hat. It was created by a famous Mexican printmaker, José Guadalupe Posada. Likewise, Posada was able to create a satirical portrait with this creation. The Katrina’s skull has been a joke for Mexican natives who wanted to adopt European aristocratic traditions. The artist was worried about missing Mexican traditions. Indeed, the Katrina is a way to claim the Mexicans’ beliefs. Now, It is the symbol of ‘The day of the death’. The people would rather put its image in all celebrations about the death. Certainly, the Katrina is an icon.

Although, the beliefs and customs about this day could change, it is important to make emphasis that this tradition never goes to disappear. For the Mexican people, it is a rule to give tribute to the death, to remember their dead relatives and to share with other members of their culture. In a brief, this traditional day shows to other countries that it is possible to understand the death like something kind and funny and not like a sad chapter of the life. You had better go once in your life to this festival. I am sure that it will be an unforgettable experience. Why wouldn’t you come to México?