Day of the Dead: Here are some facts about death in the U.S.

"The origins of Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, can be traced back hundreds of years to an Aztec festival that honored the goddess of the dead, Mictecacihuatl. The party lasted a month. With the arrival of European colonists, the Catholic Church shrank it to a couple of days, coinciding with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, usually the first two days of November. Family and friends decorate altars with offerings such as candles, flowers, photos and meaningful memorabilia."

"In 2024, the U.S. death rate fell by 3.8%, marking the third straight year of decline. Overall, there were 722 deaths per 100,000 people, the lowest mortality rate since 2019's 715.2 deaths per 100,000. Heart disease 1 in 5 deaths, leading cause since 1921. Followed by cancer and unintentional injury (accidents/overdoses). Jobs most likely to kill you: Loggers and fishers. See the top 10 in the graphic below."

"Life expectancy in 2023: 75.8 years for men, 81.1 years for women. Life expectancy in 1925: Males 64, Females 71. Number of deaths in 2023: 2.98 million Projected number of deaths for 2025: 3.09 million Approximate number of deaths per day in the U.S.: 8,460 Approximate deaths per hour in the U.S.: 348 Approximate number of cemeteries in the U.S.: 144,000 The number of cemeteries the National Park Service manages: 14"

Day of the Dead traces to an Aztec festival honoring the goddess Mictecacihuatl that originally lasted a month and was shortened to coincide with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in early November. Families and friends decorate altars with candles, flowers, photos and meaningful memorabilia to welcome returning loved ones. Face painting resembling skulls symbolizes the eternal cycle of life from birth to death. In 2024 the U.S. death rate fell 3.8% to 722 deaths per 100,000, the lowest since 2019. Heart disease remains the leading cause, followed by cancer and unintentional injury, and poisoning accounted for 100,304 unintentional deaths in 2023.

Read at www.ocregister.com