Mexican, indigenous cultures conceived death as a dialectical unit: the life-death binomial, which made death coexist in all manifestations of its culture.
The origins of the Day of the Dead tradition predate the arrival of the Spaniards, who had a unitary conception of the soul, a conception that prevented them from understanding the fact that the natives attributed to each individual several spiritual entities and that each one of them had die a different destiny.
Within the prehispanic vision, the act of dying was the beginning of a journey towards Mictlán, the kingdom of the stark dead or underworld, also called Xiomoayan, a term that the Spaniards translated as hell.
After the Conquest, the terror of death and hell is introduced to Mexico with the spread of Christianity, so that in this era there is a mixture of beliefs of the Old and the New World. Thus, the Colony was a time of syncretism where the efforts of Christian evangelization had to yield to the strength of many indigenous beliefs, resulting in a Catholicism very typical of the Americas, characterized by a mixture of pre-Hispanic religions and the Catholic religion.
The altar to the dead is the center of this celebration and its elements are a mixture of pre-Hispanic and Catholic traditions that merge to celebrate the loved ones that have passed away.
Generally the altars are of two, three or even seven levels. In all cases, the lower levels represent the earth and the underworld and the upper levels represent the heavenly dimensions.
Different elements that make up the altar:
Arch: It represents the entrance to the world of the dead and is adorned with flowers and, in some cases, fruits
Representation of natural elements: The wind is represented by papel picado, which regularly includes designs based on the work of José Guadalupe Posada, a glass of water serves to quench the thirst of the spirit, fire is represented by lighted candles and earth with seeds and fruits.
Aromas: Copal was considered a sacred essence in pre-Hispanic cultures and is usually an indispensable element in the altar of the dead. Other aromas are: cempasúchil flowers, herbal infusions such as laurel, thyme and rosemary.
Food: They should be liked by the deceased, who can only enjoy them once a year. Traditionally, typical dishes such as mole and tamales are present. Calaveritas made of sugar, chocolate or amaranth represent that death can be sweet. The bread of the dead is a modern element of the altars. Alcoholic drinks that the deceased enjoyed as beer, tequila or pulque, are placed as well.
Personal objects: In the terrestrial levels, belongings of the deceased are usually placed, especially if they were loved and appreciated objects. It is also customary to place a photograph of the deceased in the central part.
Religious symbolism: It occupies the upper levels of the altar and is made up of crosses, figures and statuettes of saints, virgins and angels.
Día de Muertos Specials November 1st to 3rd