Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It is sometimes confused with Halloween because of the symbolic skulls, but is not related at all. Captain Create has taken his balloon to Jalisco, in southern Mexico, to learn, eat, and celebrate!
It is said that on November 1st the children who have passed come back to visit and celebrate as angelitos (little angels) and on the following day, November 2nd, it’s the adults (Difuntos) turn to show up for the festivities. Family members prepare for several weeks in advance for the tradition by creating altars, decorating burial sites, and cooking specific Day of the Dead foods. Customary foods are prepared during the Dia de Los Muertos and are shared with family, neighbors, strangers, and the visiting spirits. Posole is one of those foods, is often made for celebrations, and is healthy too!
Dia de los Muertos came to be from a mixture of the Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess, Mictecacihuatl, with the Catholic influence of Spanish colonizers. Mictecacihuatl is the “lady of the dead” and it is said that she watches over the bones of the dead & swallows the stars during the day.
You can also celebrate the Day of the Dead, even if you are not in Mexico, or of Mexican descent, by respectfully by understanding the customs and honoring the tradition for what it is. Most Mexicans enjoy the fact that you are interested in their culture and want to get to know their traditions.The holiday is a great way to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed. For Mexicans, this is a deeply spiritual and family-bonding experience. To learn more, look up the history and traditions of the Dia de los Muertos, or ask your friends and neighbors that you know celebrate this colorful and happy holiday.
