by Iris W

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: February 11, 2009

n the Chinese tradition, the 14th day of the 7th month is marked as the Ghost Day, the day when the door between the living and the dead opens and the dead roams among us freely. It is also the day when the living honors their ancestors through prayers and offerings of incense and food.

Likewise, Day of the Dead, or Da de los Muertos in Spanish, is a day mainly celebrated by people of Mexican heritage. It is the day when the door between the living and the dead opens and the dead roams among us freely. It is also the day when the living honors their ancestors through prayers and offerings of incense and food. Family and friends gather together to pray for and celebrate the memories of their beloved. As opposed to the All Souls Day that is celebrated by the Catholic, Day of the Dead occurs on the November 1st and 2nd.

Many traditions of the celebration has carried on till this day, such visiting and cleaning the graves, building an altar to honor the departed, prayers, and offering of beverages and food to the departed. Most of the time, the relatives will prepare food that was once favored by the deceased. But as time goes by, some dishes have simply become a commonality in the offerings, also known as ofrendas.

One of custom dishes is made of bread, the most famous one called the bread of the dead, or pan de los muertos. It is sweet, egg-rich bread baked in different shapes of skeletons and bones. It is said to have originated from the early Spanish rituals of begging for souls. Today, there are various types and designs of this bread available.

Another common confection is known as sugar skulls. These are sugary candies that, like the bread, are also made in many shapes of skulls, coffins and skeletons. Skull is a famous design in these delicacies as early Mexican ancestors saw it as a sign of life rather than death. Other food like tamales (corn dumplings stuffed with meat and chili and steamed in husks or banana leaves), moles (turkey in a rich chili sauce), maize dough cakes, pumpkins and enchiladas are also famously offered at the altar.

Aside food, there are also traditional and modern beverages being offered to the dead. Atole is a type of corn drink, maade of corn meal and is one of the traditional liquors like the alcoholic mescal and pulque. Chocolate is also another famous drink; it was believed that the drink would provide the drinker with great wisdom, understanding and energy. Other drinks like soda, tequila, beer, and coffee are also used. Sometimes, they will simply put a glass of plain water for the souls to quench their thirst after their journey'.

Learn more about this author, Iris W.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.