"Día de Los Muertos, like Halloween, is connected to back-to-back Catholic holidays, All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls Days on Nov. 2. (The night before, called All Hallows Eve, became "Hallowe'en.") But Day of the Dead is empathically not Halloween, the holiday that leans into - and laughs at - Americans' dread of death and fear of the unknown, confronting the worst supernatural monsters imaginable."
"Integrating Indigenous rituals into Christian traditions, the Mexican holiday embraces the fall, when the "veil is at its thinnest," because that means late loved ones may return, and in case they do, the living are going to throw them a vibrant music-and-food-filled party. Participants built tribute altars (ofrenda) for their dearly departed adorned with their favorite foods, sugar skulls (calaveras) and skeleton figurines (calacas) as well as bright orange marigolds and candles to help lead them home."
Día de los Muertos coincides with All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2) but differs from Halloween by celebrating and remembering rather than mocking or fearing death. The holiday integrates Indigenous rituals and Christian traditions, embracing the period when the veil between worlds is thinnest to welcome returning loved ones. Participants build ofrendas with favorite foods, sugar skulls, calacas, marigolds and candles to guide spirits. Public events include family-friendly museum activities, art exhibitions, parades, and large community festivals featuring music, dance, costume traditions like Catrina/Catrín, and communal altars honoring the deceased.
Read at The Mercury News
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