Dia de los Muertos: Memorializing Loved Ones

Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is an ancient Central American holiday that memorializes loved ones who have died. The tradition is over 3,000 years old and is still observed by many inhabitants of Mexico, Central America, and, increasingly, worldwide.

When the Spanish colonialists arrived on this continent, they tried, unsuccessfully, to stamp out Dia de los Muertos, because they found the rituals to be bizarre and possibly blasphemous. When they realized they could not stop the holiday, they decided to move the date from August to the beginning of November in order to coincide with All Saints Day and All Soul Days—holidays officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church.

One primary difference between Dia de los Muertos and All Souls Day is the fundamental attitude towards death. With solemnity and reverence, All Souls Day observances tend to focus on what has been lost by the living. The tone of Dia de los Muertos, however, assumes continuity between life and the afterlife. With Dia de los Muertos, death is rather a new beginning—a rebirth.

Celebrants in more rural locations throughout Mexico observe by visiting the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They clean the site of the grave, decorate it with candles and flowers, and bring gifts for their loved ones.

In today’s American Southwest, most second and third generation immigrants are not familiar with Dia de los Muertos and could find its attitude toward death—both festive and mocking—to be foreign. Some recent immigrants, however, still observe the holiday.

One of the primary crafts is the sugar skull. Molded from damp sugar, dried, and decorated with frosting, the sugar skulls are a key feature of any Dia de los Muertos celebration. The skulls are often placed on altars created by family members.

In the urban parts of Mexico and in the US, celebrants forego the cemetery celebrations and participate in rituals in their homes. They often create altars to commemorate the dead. Flowers, food, candles, sugar skulls, and pictures are used to honor the memory of the dead. It is believed by some that the spirits of the deceased travel the celestial plane to visit earth during Dia de los Muertos. The food is often left out for sustenance for the nonliving after the long voyage home. Like Santa Clause, the dead are said to consume the food, at least in part, while everyone sleeps.

Dia de los Muertos is now celebrated by more than just indigenous Central Americans. In the US, African-Americans, Native Americans, students, and artists have discovered the helpful role of the holiday.

Some find the light-hearted, mocking attitude a bit odd or threatening. In reality, however, the utmost respect is showed towards the dead.

Dia de los Muertos celebrations occur in Latin American countries besides Mexico. It is a recognized holiday in Brazil. Celebrations also take place in Guatemala, Haiti, the Philippines, and parts of Europe and Asia.

Joan Serber works for Hospice Brazos Valley in central Texas. She has been working for several years to revive the tradition in her area. Her initial efforts weren’t in a hospice setting, however. She worked with area artists and galleries to feature Dia de los Muertos art and crafts.

The best introduction to the holiday, according to Serber, is The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico by Elizabeth Carmichael and Chloë Sayer.

The tradition has been further melded with the Christian tradition in that crosses or statues of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary are often found on altars along with traditional items.

According to Serber, Hospice Brazos County created an altar for their therapy dog after his death. The staff and patients appreciated the reverent, if not quite solemn, displays.

As the Hispanic population rises throughout all parts of the United States, Dia de los Muertos will be an increasingly important holiday. Those who work in hospice programs that serve large immigrant populations should be knowledgeable of the holiday and prepared to help their grief clients observe its traditions, if so desired.

Keith Johnson, HFA
originally posted Oct 29, 2008