Day of the Dead: This is the exact date on which the sacrifice of dogs and other domestic animals must be placed on the altar

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is a beautiful tradition that the world has come to appreciate more since the screening of the film Coco.

Villages and towns are filled with Catrinas, offerings of the dead, cempasúchil flowers – known as flower of the dead – music and giant skulls made of cardboard and papier-mâché, notes EFE.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2, a day that is attractive for trade and tourism.

The Spanish agency recalls that 2023 will mark 20 years since Mexico’s Day of the Dead was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

‘Coco’, a colorful journey to Mexico and its traditions

Families open the Day of the Dead with love. In homes, offerings or altars are made “with symbolic elements in honor of loved ones who have died,” Infobae indicates.

Photos of those who have physically left are placed on the altar. It also contains water, candles, bread of the dead, food and marigold flowers.

But… did you know that this tradition also involves deceased pets?

Offers for pets on the Day of the Dead

Expansión points out that this season we remember not only family and friends, but also the animals that accompanied us.

The festivities will begin on Friday, October 27, 2023, “when the souls of the deceased pets are expected to visit.” Many are keeping the pet offer until November 3.

The souls of dogs, cats or other pets return home, therefore the offer, “to enjoy their favorite food and spend a moment with their owners.”

According to the myth, the souls of the dead return home to live with living relatives and to be nourished by the essence of the food offered to them on the altars.

The sacrifice, they emphasize in Expansión, must be completed on the night of October 27, because it says that “the souls of the pets arrive between that night and the early morning of the 28th.”

What the pet offering should have

The altars for those precious family members who remain alive in the heart should have “photos of them, water, candles, their favorite foods, and even their toys,” if you keep them.

Life does not end with death, they learn in Coco. For those beloved family members, friends and pets, let us continue to hum the movie’s theme: “Remember me today, I must go my love/Remember me, please don’t cry/I carry you in my heart and you will I near/Alone I will sing to you as you dream of going back.”

(JO)