Day Of The Dead Sugar Skull Tradition is a photograph by Gary Keesler which was uploaded on September 7th, 2015.
Day Of The Dead Sugar Skull Tradition
History of Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos. Day Of The Dead Sugar Skull Tradition. ... more
by Gary Keesler
Title
Day Of The Dead Sugar Skull Tradition
Artist
Gary Keesler
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art Photography
Description
History of Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos. "Day Of The Dead Sugar Skull Tradition".
In the Hispanic and Latino Catholic World "Day of the Dead" is celebrated throughout Mexico and the Catholic world... Italy, Spain, South America and the Philippines all celebrate All Souls and All Saints Day on November 1st and 2nd. Special Masses and perhaps cleaning of the cemetery tombs are part of the traditional activities... it's only in Central and Southern Mexico where the colorful parties take place in the cemeteries and elaborate ofrenda altars are built in the homes to honor specific family members who have passed on.
Day of the Dead is an interesting holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico during the chilly days of November 1 & 2.
Even though this coincides with the Catholic holiday called All Soul's & All Saint’s Day, the indigenous people have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones.
They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours.
On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.
In most Indian villages, beautiful altars (ofrendas) are made in each home.
They are decorated with candles, buckets of flowers (wild marigolds called cempasuchil & bright red cock's combs) mounds of fruit, peanuts, plates of turkey mole, stacks of tortillas and big Day-of-the-Dead breads called pan de muerto.
The altar needs to have lots of food, bottles of soda, hot cocoa and water for the weary spirits.
Toys and candies are left for the angelitos, and on Nov. 2, cigarettes and shots of mezcal are offered to the adult spirits.
Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets, provide the final touches.
Day of the Dead is a very expensive holiday for these self-sufficient, rural based, indigenous families and many spend over two month's income to honor their dead relatives.
They believe that happy spirits will provide protection, good luck and wisdom to their families. Ofrenda building keeps the family close.
On the afternoon of Nov. 2, the festivities are taken to the cemetery.
People clean tombs, play cards, listen to the village band and reminisce about their loved ones.
Tradition keeps the village close, but Day of the Dead is now becoming very popular in the U.S.~ perhaps because we don't have a way to celebrate and honor our dead, or maybe it's because of our fascination with it's mysticism.
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Uploaded
September 7th, 2015
Comments (18)
ARTography by Pamela Smale Williams
Enjoyed the history of El Dia del Muertos. Terrific find Gary! Good job. Pamela
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