by Rachel Funk

Created on: October 02, 2009

Rituals celebrating death have been a part of pre-Hispanic civilizations for over two thousand years. While some practices, such as keeping skulls of the deceased to symbolize death and rebirth have fallen out of practice, as well as social favor. Other commemorations have held on strongly with the descendants of the Aztec, Mixtec and Mayan people. The belief is that on the day of the Dead, communication with the departed is easier, so the dead are honored, offered presents and spoken to by the living.

The Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertas, contrary to its name, is a two day festival spanning from November 1st until the midnight of November 2nd. The two days are held in honor of Mictecacihuatl, she is the queen of the underworld and said to be the spiritual guardian of the bones of the dead. Modern beliefs are that she watches over the celebration in her honor, as well. Mictecacihuatl is represented at the festivals through la Calaveras de Caterinas, or elegant skulls, commonly portrayed as a feminine skeleton dressed in fashionable clothing of the time. Symbolic representation is highly important to the celebrants, traditionally skulls and Caterinas are the most prolific found in homes, schools and government buildings at alters. The symbols of death intermingle with countless candles, pictures of the Virgin Mary, the photographs of the deceased as well as offerings for the dead of trinkets.

The two day festival is separated into two distinctly different celebrations. The first day is held in honor of the lost innocent, Dia de los inocentes. Offerings of toys and candy are left at alters and gravesites. Favorite foods and beverages are brought to encourage the souls of the lost children to visit the site and communicate with the living. Traditions vary from village to village, in some the god parents of a child who has passed, on the November 1st after a child's death, will set a table in the child's parent's home heavy with traditional dishes. In other another village visitors to the family's home exchange small candles for food. The day is held in celebration of the children's lives and in respect for the parents.

The second day of celebration, known as Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is held in honor of adults. Much like November 1st, November 2nd is spent honoring the dead through gifts of food and drink, mescal and tequila are often left at gravesites and alters. Visitors, trying to encourage visits from the souls of the dead, tell humorous

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