Day of the Dead in Mexico

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Detail of painting by Diego Rivera ‘Dream of a Sunday evening in Alameda Park’. Day of the Dead in Mexico

Day of the Dead in Mexico
In the above painting, on the right hand of Catrina – Frida Kahlo, and Rivera himself as a child; and on the left hand – José Guadalupe Posada. Murals, Mexico. Celebrated November 1 and 2 the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos is a traditional holiday in the country. In fact, some countries celebrate Samhain, others – Halloween, and here in Mexico – Day of the Dead. In Sweden, during the holiday, called Alla helgons dag (All Saints’ Day), people visit the graves of loved ones. Meanwhile, they bring them special wreaths and white candles in a special candle holders.
However, the most interesting holiday takes place in Mexico, according to tradition, going from Maya. And the heroine of today Carnival – La Calavera Catrina (Calavera – skull).

Main character of the festival La Calavera Catrina (‘Elegant Skull’). People devote to her folk toys, paintings, sculptures, costumes, masks, candies and installations

Traditionally, people visit the dead at the cemetery, and also, welcome their souls in the houses. At the cemetery, people have picnics, where they eat special bread of the dead – loaf with a cross “pan de muerto”. Sometimes baked in a small souvenir skull. According to belief, to get such a skull brings luck. In addition, people bring gifts to the Dead on the graves: flowers, booze and cigarettes.

Besides, people decorate their houses with special art installations. In particular, memorial altars with flowers, candles and portraits of the deceased and memorabilia from their lives. On these altars – kindle incense, and of course, water is present as a universal guide. Meanwhile, on the children’s altar people place milk, nipples, toys, and goodies. Actually, the Day of the Dead with dancing and a carnival for adults will be tomorrow, November 2nd.

Day of the Dead in Mexico

La Calavera Catrina (‘Elegant Skull’)

November 1 – Day of angels, and dedicated to children. Given sweets, marzipan coffins, sugar skulls and other festive toys, children enjoy this holiday. Meanwhile, the toys represent Calavera Catrina, skeletons, puppets, and coffins with surprise.

Interestingly, according to belief, the orange color is the most modern spirituality antidepressant. In fact, hippie subculture regarded it as “the color of madness, not leading to death”. However, Mexicans consider it the color of death, and purple – the color of life. At the same time, hippie attributed to the purple color insanity, leading to death.

It turns out that orange and purple in both psychedelic cultures means almost the opposite. Accordingly, the hippies and the Indians had similar visual psychedelic experience, but made different conclusions.