How the Day of the Dead is remembered in Latin America

The Day of the Dead is one of the most intensely lived celebrations in some Latin American countries. This is remembered between November 1 and 2, the first date corresponds to the feast of All Saints and the second to the dead.

Outside of the tourist aspect that a holiday entails, the holiday seeks to honor and remember the people who have passed away.

Since the time of the conquest, the commemoration of the Day of the Dead has had the mixture of the vision of the indigenous peoples and the Spanish. The former saw death as another stage in the life of the human being and even honored it in different ways to receive blessings in the earthly world.

One of the countries that have this celebration as an icon is MexicoDepending on the region there are various traditions that are employed. One of the most deeply rooted is the elaboration of large altars in their homes, churches or public spaces such as cemeteries where photographs of loved ones, their favorite food, candles, traditional flowers such as marigolds are placed.

In some cases, land and river processions are organized to the cemeteries. At the gastronomic level, the bread of the dead is offered, which is a sweet bread sprinkled with sugar. It is also common to observe people dressed as catrinas and calacas, in several cities parades with these characters are organized.

In Central America, Guatemala is another of the countries where the commemoration takes on great relevance. Like other areas, people visit cemeteries and adorn the graves with flowers accompanying them with prayers.

In the town of Santiago Sacatepéquez, huge kites are launched on a slope of the pantheon and it is related as a connection with the dead to guide the spirit with the relatives, once the party is over, these are burned to free the deceased . At the gastronomic level, the so-called cold meat is made, which consists of a combination of vegetables, meats and sausages.

At the South American level, Ecuador It is characterized by making the traditional bread buses and taking purple laundry, these are part of the indigenous worldview about the deceased and that with the passage of time was adapted and modified.

In the same way, the visit to cemeteries is traditional and in several provinces food is brought for the deceased.

On Bolivia The building of altars is also traditional on November 1 when the souls descend, however, there is a preparation that draws a lot of attention and it is the child of bread that is placed in the offerings and at the head of the tomb of the beings dear. In addition, human skulls called ñatitas are worshiped and favors are asked of them and on November 8 they are taken to the cemetery for the celebration of a mass.

The altars are collected on November 2 when it is thought that the souls say goodbye. (I)