Dia De Los Muertos

Every year, families across Mexico and parts of the United States gather to celebrate a unique and colorful holiday that honors loved ones who have passed away. Welcome to the world of Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) where death is seen not as an end, but as part of the cycle of life.

Celebrated every year on November 1st and 2nd.

Combines Mexican Indigenous beliefs with Catholic influences, creating a truly unique holiday

Dates back to the Aztec Empire, who believed that death was a part of life, and as such, is something to be celebrated. Later, it was influenced by the Catholics who introduced All Saints' Day and All Souls' day, that we celebrate on November 1st for children who passed, and November 2nd for adult ancestors.

https://www.uottawa.ca/en/events-all/day-dead-altar-exhibition (Left)

https://www.nytimes.com/article/day-of-the-dead-mexico.html (Right)

Ofrendas

These alters are called Ofrendas, and are used to provide an offering to the ancestors of the living. There are three main elements that most alter will have:

1) Candles to represent the loved one's soul, and act as a guide to lead them back to their family.

2) Cempasúchil (Marigolds) are used to create a bridge from the afterlife to our world that ancestors use to come home and spend time with their loved ones who are still living

3) Food is also an important offering on Ofrenda's. Traditional foods such as pan de muerto (Bread of the Dead) and Sugar skulls are offered to provide substance and feed the spirits.

4) Photos of the relatives are the most important aspect of the Ofrenda, as having one up will ultimately determine if they can pass over on the day.

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2022/11/2/photos-mexicans-celebrate-the-day-of-the-dead

Visiting Cemeteries 

On November 1st and 2nd, it is common for families to visit the final Earthly resting places of their loved ones.

Here they will clean the site, and decorate it with all sorts of things that they enjoyed in life. Food, marigolds, toys, candles, toys or other things that they valued in life.

Families will often spend the night at these shrines to pray, remember and spend time with the deceased

https://www.pixar.com/coco

In Coco

Ofrenda

In the movie, Miguel's family sets up an Ofrenda for their ancestors, but there is a place missing for Miguel's great-great-grandfather, who was banished from the family after they believed he left the family to pursue a career in music. When Miguel is in the Land of the Dead, he begins to understand the importance of remembering your loved ones, as if you do not, they will suffer what is known as "The Final Death", where a person is completely forgotten in the Land of the Living, and they fade away from the Land of the Dead.    

Cemeteries

Miguel's journey begins in the cemetery, where he tries to borrow Ernesto de la Cruz, his hero, 's guitar, to play in the Day of the Dead talent show. He learns that going to the cemetery is another way for the living to celebrate and remember the dead. Their spirits will visit the shrines their family builds in the home andat their final resting spots.