The Day of the Dead (El día de los muertos) is a very important holiday in Mexico and has been for many years. It is a time to remember loved ones who have passed away and be with your family and friends. There are many traditions carried during the holiday that make it as special as it is. It is also a history-rich event. Originally, el día de los muertos was celebrated in Mexico on October 31. (It is not the same thing as Halloween.) However, once the Spanish started migrating things changed a bit. The Catholics especially did not like the pagan nature of the holiday and therefore tried to rid of it completely by changing the date to November 1st and 2nd and changing the name to All Saints’ Day. However, the holiday continued and is celebrated to this day. …show more content…
In contradiction to Halloween, it is not a scary holiday and instead focuses on remembering those who have died with love and respect. On the first day (November 1) all the spirits of children who died come back and are remembered. The next day everyone else is celebrated. The living prepare their homes and towns for the return of the dead on October 31st. There are many other things traditionally done to honor the dead and enjoy the holiday.
Many foods are made for day of the dead. That includes pan de los muertos (dead bread) which is a slightly sweeter version of sandwich bread and is sometimes decorated with pieces that look like skulls and bones. Additionally, there are sugar skulls. These are essentially sugar cubes carved into the shape of a skull and occasionally garnished with food coloring. Several other traditional Mexican foods are enjoyed throughout the two