Latin-American Studies

El Da de los Muertos, which can literarily be translated as Land of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that is celebrated by Hispanic societies in America and Canada. This festival traditionally starts from October 31st and spans through November 2nd. Several people have likened this festival to Halloween festival in the American culture. During this festival, friends and family gather together with the aim of celebrating the souls of their loved ones that have departed from them. However, unlike what is applicable with Halloween where images of dead creates fear in the minds of the people,  El Da de los Muertos celebrates death or the memory of those who have departed from life (Erichsen, 2010).

El Da de los Muertos festival is the biggest and one of the most significant holidays in Mexico. It follows an ancient Aztecs tradition where a celebration that spanned for a month was organized to celebrate death. This celebration is done under the supervision of Mictecacihuatl, who is regarded as the Lady of the Dead. When the Aztecs were conquered by the Spaniards, the celebration became knotted with the Catholic celebration of the All Saints Day.

The El Da de los Muertos festival is also a symbolic holiday. During this period, friends and family of the departed ones visit the cemetery to celebrate their dead. The streets around the cemetery are adorned with decorations of flowers, candy Calaveras skeletons and skulls, and procession (Erichsen, 2010). It is also a colorful event. An altar is built and the photograph of the departed one is placed on top of the altar. The family members of the dead make offerings and food made in skull-like shapes. Incenses and candles are also an important part of the El Da de los Muertos festival.

The significant of this festival is that the Mexicans accept death as being part of human life and that human beings should learn how to deal with it. Death is not something that should be feared, rather, it should be celebrated. Apart from this, people believe that the El Da de los Muertos festival allows them communicate with the souls of the departed. It is a way by which Latin Americans communicate and remember their departed ones.