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Twelve Things You May Not Know About Día de Los Muertos
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world. These are some facts that you might not have known about the multi-day celebration.
Dating back hundreds of years, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is historically an Aztec ritual honoring those that have passed on. When the Spanish conquistadores came to Mexico with Christianity, Día de los Muertos was born. The holiday combines Catholicism and Mesoamerican culture. (The Smithsonian Latino Center)
This year, Zona Rosa Caffe partnered with the Pasadena Playhouse to host the 24th Annual Día de los Muertos festival on El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. Local residents created their own ofrendas, or personal altars honoring late loved ones, on El Molino Avenue. Ofrendas included pictures of the deceased, along with items that belonged to them and objects that served as a reminder of their lives. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
2. It's Celebrated Around the World
The holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world, from the United States to the Philippines. During the holiday, family and friends gather to honor and celebrate loved ones who have died. Over the last decade, a growing number of people of Mexican and other Latin American descent have celebrated Día de los Muertos in the U.S. ("Hybridity and Authenticity in US Day of the Dead Celebrations" by Regina March)
In Pasadena, Angelenos of all ages enjoyed live music, face painting, holiday treats and crafts. Ballet Folklorico Quetzal dancers put on several performances in front of the Pasadena Playhouse. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
3. Preparing for a Multi-Day Celebration
Today’s Día de Muertos is celebrated during multiple days, with celebrations beginning on Oct. 31. Nov. 1, the Día de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents”), is reserved for honoring deceased children, and Nov. 2, the Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”), is reserved for honoring deceased adults. Traditional events include cleaning the graves of loved ones, leaving offerings for their spirits, decorating tombstones with marigolds, and sitting with family to share humorous memories of the dear departed. (National Geographic)
Residents and visitors created colorful drawings of marigolds and other symbols of Día de los Muertos with chalk. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
4. The Importance of Ofrendas
One of the most important traditions is to set up ofrendas, or personal altars honoring late loved ones, filled with items that were significant to the deceased. They can be decorated with portraits of loved ones, toys, candles, fruit or even fragments of their clothing. (National Geographic)
Ofrendas filled with marigolds, photos, candles and other tributes to late loved ones were put on display. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
5. Marigolds Are Said to Guide the Spirits of Loved Ones
Cempasúchiles, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, are most commonly used in Día de los Muertos celebrations to decorate ofrendas and graveyards. It is believed that marigolds represent life and hope, guiding the spirits of loved ones to their altars. (Smithsonian Latino Center)
Volunteers trailed large wagons full of marigold bouquets across El Molino Avenue. Marigold flowers were carefully plucked and scattered throughout the streets and sidewalks. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
6. Skeletons and Skulls
The holiday is normally celebrated with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). Calaveritas, or little skulls that can be made of sugar, are a traditional treat of Día de los Muertos. (Smithsonian Latino Center)
Día de los Muertos is often celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). These colorful creations lined store displays and adorned ofrendas. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
7.Papel Picado
Papel picado, or pierced paper, isn’t exclusive to the holiday, but plays a symbolic role. Papel picado is said to represent wind and the fragility of life. Stack colored tissue paper is perforated with a hammer and chisel, then draped around ofrendas and in the streets. (Smithsonian Latino Center)
Residents strung papel picado throughout the alleys of El Molino Avenue. Bright yellows and soft blues were luminous against a cloudy October sky. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
8. Food of the Dead
Pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, is a sweet bread (pan dulce), often made with anise seeds and decorated with bones and skulls made from dough. Often the bones are arranged in a circle, representing the circle of life. (“Death and Bereavement Around the World: Death and Bereavement in the Americas,” by John D. Morgan and Pittu Laungani.)
Decorations adorned every corner of Zona Rosa Caffe. “Each year a diverse group of Spanish and non-Spanish speakers who are either interested in learning more about the celebration or want to celebrate their own traditions visit the festival,” said cafe founder Michael Moreno. Moreno recommended visitors order zócolos con platano, a blended drink with banana and Mexican chocolate. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
9. Dressing Up
Día de los Muertos celebrations spill into streets and public squares at all hours of the day and night, and dressing up can be part of the fun. People of all ages can have their faces artfully painted to resemble skulls. (National Geographic)
Makeup artist Adrie Dee painted visitors’ faces to resemble skulls. “Día de los Muertos is a part of my own identity,” said Dee. Dee self-identifies as Hispanic with Mexican ancestry. In 2016, the U.S. Census reported that nearly half of the population of Los Angeles County was Hispanic or Latino. A third of the population of Pasadena was reported to be Hispanic or Latino. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
10. Deceased Loved Ones Visit Often
According to traditional beliefs, the dead come and go all the time, stopping in to visit living family members frequently. The holiday is a reminder to honor late loved ones. (Smithsonian Latino Center)
It is believed that marigolds represent life and hope, guiding the spirits of loved ones to their altars. Lines of marigolds stretched across El Molino Avenue and into greater Pasadena. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
11. Disney Tried to Trademark "Día de los Muertos"
One year after Pixar announced a new movie inspired by the holiday, the Walt Disney Co. filed a trademark request for the phrase “Día de los Muertos” for merchandising purposes. After backlash on social media and other platforms, Disney canceled its trademark request—and soon announced that the film would be called simply “Coco.”
Volunteers from the Armory Center of the Arts helped visitors create skeletons out of clay. “It’s important to pass these [art creations] down from generation to generation,” said Tricia Garcia, a coordinator at the Armory Center. “The holiday is all about creating and celebrating with family.” (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
12. The Holiday is Recognized by the United Nations
In 2008, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the importance of Día de los Muertos by adding the holiday to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (UNESCO)
On the steps of the Pasadena Playhouse, a volunteer from Vroman’s Bookstore read stories of Día de los Muertos. “One of the best ways to start teaching kids about the history and meaning of [Día de los Muertos] is to get them books rich with stories, pictures, and activities,” said Zona Rosa Caffe owner Michael Moreno. (Photo by Montana Ruderman)
This article was written in collaboration with Dímelo.
