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October
23, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 18Oakland,
CA
What is Dias de los Muertos?
Days of the
Dead are a two-day celebration that combines Catholic tradition and pre-Columbian
culture of Mexico and South America. In the ancient past, the indigenous
people of Mezo America buried their dead in clothing along with personal
objects that confirmed that they had the belief of life after death. There
is a belief among some that souls return to earth on these special days
of the year.
Honoring the dead was also a European tradition. All Saints Day first
appeared in the Antioch Church around the early fourth century as a day
to honor the Church’s martyrs. In the ninth century, the Feast of
All Hallows or All Saints was established by Pope Gregory IV on November
1.
Five centuries later, “All Souls Day” was established in the
Roman Catholic calendar on November 2 as a day to pray for the souls of
the faithful dead in purgatory to lighten their suffering.
When Catholicism
came to Mezo-America. missionaries incorporated indigenous traditions
of honoring the dead with Catholic beliefs.
Today, the Days of the Dead are an elaborate set of customs and rituals.
Altars with offerings of food, candy, toys for a child, favorite foods
and drink items for adults, candles, flowers and incense are set up in
the homes for the returning spirits. In addition, there are images of
the Blessed Virgin and various saints, sugar skulls, paper cutouts with
skeleton and religious imagery, and photos of the dead.
In addition to the altar set up at home, families repair and clean grave
sites, plant fresh flowers, and make offerings. In some cases the people
make a path of flower petals from the cemetery to the house so the souls
can find their way back to their homes.
The skeleton is part of the students’ “Freedom” ofrenda. “He has angel wings because of all he went through when he was alive,” they wrote.
