Please share the full story or explain the tradition:
We recently had the privilege of traveling to Oaxaca for Dia de Los Muertos. Dia de Los Muertos take places all over Mexico where people prepare to receive the their dead loved ones. They make altars with their loved one’s favorite food, light candles and burn copal to light the way for their loved ones. The also gather around their resting place where they decorate and play music. Dia de Los muertos is on Nov 2 every year but the festivities start on Oct 31st. There is a lot of preparation that takes place and the air of filled with the aroma of copal and decorations of papal picado and the campasuchil flowers. It’s such a beautiful tradition.
How did you first learn about this story or tradition?
I am Mexican and grew up celebrating this tradition in Mexico
Unique mexican words, expressions, or slang used in this story/tradition:
El Amor Nunca Muere
Why is this story or tradition important in mexican culture?
Aztec beliefs with Catholicism, allowing families to honor, remember, and reconnect with deceased loved loved ones, transforming grief into celebration by welcoming spirits home with offerings (ofrendas), and reaffirming the cycle of life and death, not as an end, but as a continuous journey.
How do people celebrate or keep this tradition alive today?
They build ofrendas for their loved ones no matter where they live. They keep their memory alive
Do you or your family participate? share a personal memory or experience:
My family participates in Mexicali and In California. Every year we go to out abuelitos resting place and clean decorate for him. The family gathers and listen to live music and tell stories. It’s ones of my favorite times of the year. When we are unable to attend we celebrate with the ofrenda we made in our homes.
Where can visitors experience this tradition or hear this story?
This tradition can be experienced anywhere in Mexico. For an authentic experience go to Oaxaca, Mexico City also has a large celebration where they have the biggest parade.
