From Wikipedia:
The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in
Spanish) is a
holiday celebrated mainly in
Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage (and others) living in the
United States and
Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and relatives who have died. The celebration occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November, in connection with the
Catholic holy days of
All Saints' Day and
All Souls' Day which take place on those days. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an
Aztec festival dedicated to a
goddess called
Mictecacihuatl (known in English as "The Lady of the Dead").
Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world; for example, it is a public holiday in
Brazil, where many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In
Spain, there are festivals and parades, and at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray to their loved ones who have died. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the
Philippines, and
similarly-themed celebrations appear in many
Asian and
African cultures.
ORIGINS OF DAY OF THE DEAD
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the
Olmec,
Zapotec,
Mixtec,
Mexican,
Aztec,
Maya,
P'urhépecha, and
Totonac. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500–3000 years.
[1] In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.
The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the
Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess
Mictecacihuatl,
[2] known as the "Lady of the Dead," corresponding to the modern
Catrina.
In most regions of Mexico, November 1st honors deceased children and infants where as deceased adults are honored on November 2nd. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1st mainly as "Día de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents) but also as "Día de los Angelitos" (Day of the Little Angels) and November 2nd as "Día de los Muertos" or "Día de los Difuntos" (Day of the Dead).
[3]BELIEFSMany people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed, and will build private altars, containing the favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.
[3]Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the period of
November 1 and
November 2, families usually clean and decorate graves;
[2] most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange
marigolds called "cempasúchitl" (originally named cempoalxochitl,
Nahuatl for "twenty (i.e., many) flowers"). In modern Mexico this name is sometimes replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto" ("Flower of the Dead"). These flowers are thought to attract
souls of the dead to the offerings.
Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or "the little angels"), and bottles of
tequila,
mezcal or
pulque or jars of
atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin,
pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased.
[2] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrenda food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of
Mixquic,
Pátzcuaro and
Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives.
One good thing about working in a bank is that you get all of the 'Bank Holidays' off! So with today being Veteran's Day, Will and I are both off. It's very pretty outside and we noticed a flock of Egrets coming into the neighborhood. (I think it would have been even more interesting if there had been a Flock of Seagulls invading the neighborhood, but I guess that shows my age!!) We chased them down the street! I love Egrets - they are so graceful. A lot of the kids down the block were running after them and having fun. 
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