Day of The Dead
2 min read
By Leia Wolfe
Day of the Dead also known as Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd that reunites the dead with the living. It is believed that when a person dies the deceased person travels to the land of the dead. They then have to get through nine levels to get to their final resting place called “Mictlan”. According to the tradition the gates of heaven are opened on October 31st and the sprits of children and infants can rejoin their families for 24 hours and on November 2nd adults can do the same. During this short period of time the souls come back to the living world to eat, drink, dance, and play music with their loved ones. The family members treat the deceased as honored guests in their homes and leave their favorite foods and other offerings on an offering table or on their gravesites. The offering tables can be decorated with candles and yellow marigolds. During the celebration festivities people wear skull masks and eat skull shaped candy. Other food and drink associated with the holiday but also consumed year-round include spicy dark chocolate and a corn- based drink called atole. Emily Clawson said, “I don’t know much about it, but I think It’s really cool.” Delaney Watkins said “It’s a lot deeper than I thought but all of the traditions are really cool.” Day of the dead is not only a holiday, but a way for the living to reconnect with their dead loved ones.
