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Rising from the Dead in Mexico
If lately you've been seduced by the sexiness of vampires thanks to phenomenon's like True Blood, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries et al, there might just be a Mexican tradition based on historic beliefs that really does make rising from the dead the most romantic tale of all.
As Mexican traditions go, most Brits are probably only familiar with the mass consumption of tequila, but imagine a culture where not just life, but death truly is a celebratory occasion.
Every year Mexico's 'El Dia de los Muertos' or 'The Day of the Dead' festival lasts for two days; November 1st being All Saints Day followed by All Souls Day on November 2nd. During this time, the dead are honoured with a festive reunion between living families and their spirit relatives. Shrines and altars are created as a praying space to pay respects for many of the departed whilst fireworks invade the skies and happiness takes over homes.
The origin of the festivities in Mexico stem from an ancient culture in which the communities believe that during this time of year, the spirits may return to earth in order to drink, dance, laugh - basically party - as they would when they were amongst the living, so that the deceased and ancestors may be remembered fondly. At the honorary two-day feast, there is lots of good food to be sampled and the most popular staple is 'Pan de Muerto' or 'bread of the dead', typically a cinnamon flavoured sweet dough, which can be shaped into a skull or decorated with fruit to represent bones.
It sounds other worldly, an exception in the mortal calendar when the dead are welcome to visit past lives and past loves for some over indulgence, but far from being a scary event like a haunting, the ritual brings a whole new meaning to the words 'Happy Halloween'. The spirits represent joy, not tragedy or a depressing view on death.
If families are remembering children who have passed on, the deceased are said to return as 'little angels'. And likewise, this isn't an R-rated, adult only experience; children learn not to fear death but accept it and be safe in the knowledge that they will be reunited with missed souls once a year.
Recently, British Airways chose to show the festival off to the UK in order to advertise flights to Mexico and show a culture largely untouched by British holidaymakers. BA briefly documented the local people enjoying the occasion and captured the momentum perfectly:
Obviously South America is steeped in a rich and colourful history, and its thought this particular ritual originated some three thousand years ago, dating back to the Aztec era. Yet today the festival is also noted in many different countries, predominantly in the Hispanic influenced cities of the US like Texas and LA (where better to celebrate the dead rising in an English-speaking city than the City Of Angels?) However it is also embraced much further a field in Europe and Scandinavia. And rightly so, surely the ideals behind the event are the most comforting and reassuring way to cope with loss? Not just as a family, but as a community and a nation.
Dia de los Muertos has become somewhat fashionable in pop culture, an almost serenade between two worlds. Maybe because its seen as quirky or still 'dark' by many western standards - but this doesn't really take away from the importance of the ritual which is still a very religious experience in Mexican towns. Typical symbols such as sugar skulls (which when edible, are brightly decorated candies) can be found on high street clothes designs, jewellery and now iconic in body art, in modern and punk tattoo culture. The skulls are not threatening or evil looking, but rather vibrant, floral and feminine. Dressing up with traditional costumes and face paints is also a very popular pastime to honour the dead. People create skeletal looks with traditional décor and when on the face of a woman, is also a very popular design for tattoos and paintings, making death a sort or respectable pin-up.
Just as with the Catholic faith, the indigenous people of Mexico believe that whilst our earthly bodies die, our souls do not. Religiously speaking, it is thought that the dead go to a place called 'Mictlan', a sort of resting place for them to sleep until woken on November 1st when vigils are held in cemeteries. As with any holiday celebration, there are preparations to be made. Flowers are placed on graves and in the streets, whilst candles fill village squares and gardens allowing the juxtaposition of blossoming new life and bright lights to guide and welcome the dead home.
Music plays a big part in the event and as stated earlier, Hispanic led towns such as LA have huge parties and concerts to accompany the holiday. To leave you with some traditional Mexican sounds with a twist, watch LA hardcore band The Bronx as they swap broken bones for broken hearts, Mariachi style. Taken form the eponymous début album, Mariachi El Bronx first single, 'Quinceniera' makes the perfect soundtrack for some Dia de los Muertos reading. Until next year... enjoy!
Tags: el dia de los muertos day of the dead mexico
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