‘Not your Mexican Halloween’: The significance of Día de los Muertos

[Elderberry]

KHOU 11 by Elena Arteaga  11/2/2019

Two days in November, many in the Hispanic community celebrate loved ones who’ve passed. But the celebration isn’t Mexican Halloween—it’s a tradition that should be

Día de los Muertos is not your Mexican Halloween.

“It has a connection, with All Saints Eve, but Día de los Muertos is specifically a celebration that goes back to ancient Mexico,” said Xochitezca Tapia, with Danza Chikawa. “Día de los Muertos is a day of celebration where we honor and remember our deceased.”

It’s a tradition that originated with the Aztecs, who took two months to remember their deceased loved ones. But the tradition nowadays is becoming marred by some who seem unaware about why some in the Hispanic community continue the tradition.

“The Mexica people celebrated Día de los Muertos,” said Tapia. “They had, actually, in the Aztec calendar, two months of 20 days each, dedicated to our deceased. The first month was dedicated to the children, and the second month to the adults. When the Spanish arrived, we had this mixing of the two cultures. Día de los Muertos, I would say, kind of mixed with the religious All Saints Day, and it became the present-day Día de los Muertos.”

In the Hispanic culture, Día de los Muertos is not a somber occasion. It’s bright, colorful, mixed with foods, dancing, and music.

“If you think about the Day of the Dead, it’s sort of a festival of the senses,” said Luis Gavito, a curator of the altars for Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts-Houston, also known as MECA-Houston. “It’s very colorful, the smells and the marigolds. The food. So, it speaks to the senses. This is a festival. It’s a fiesta. It speaks about the relationship Mexicans have with death.”

More: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/dia-de-los-muertos-meaning/285-ee77f37b-ddd7-4610-b050-fc48ddff296a

[Elderberry]

Traditional recipes to make for the “Day of the Dead”

https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/day-of-the-dead-foods-and-drinks-recipes/

Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration when we remember our loved ones who have died. We prepare an altar with pictures of our relatives and friends who have passed away. we light candles and place flowers on the table, along with the food that our loved ones enjoyed during their lives. Some of the most popular dishes you will find on those altars are Tamales, Mole, enchiladas, etc. These are just a few of the many dishes that will be present during this special celebration.

Click on the recipe name to go to the recipe: Café de olla– Coffee from the pot, Basic Atole recipe, Champurrado, a thick chocolate drink, Pork Tamales wrapped in banana leaves, Basic Tamales recipe using masa harina, Zacahuil, one large tamal, Mole Poblano, Enchiladas Rojas, Red Pozole, Buñuelos with an aromatic syrup, Candied Pumpkin, Candied Sweet potatoes.

And last but not least “Pan de Muerto”, Day of the Dead Bread.

Enjoy and preserve our traditions.

Mely,

[Gefn]

Bookmarking this. Muchas Gracias, @Elderberry

[truth_seeker]

This holiday is far more authentic, than May 5th

Our darling little neices by the surname Martinez, did this costume.