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Days of the Dead: Journey to Eternity By Pamela Fullerton The Days of the Dead, or Dias de los Muertos, is not so much a somber meditation of death as it is a celebration of life. The festivities begin on October 27th and end on November 2nd. During that time it is believed that the deceased rejoin the loved ones they left behind. This occasion calls for decadence in decorations, dancing, music, food, and drink, all in honor of the dead. It is a tradition that has incorporated Christian beliefs as well as rituals performed by the early Aztec civilization. There is much history, preparations, customs, and spirituality that define Dias de los Muertos. In the ancient Aztec culture, the indigeneous people often "fed death with life". They made offerings of food, drink, and ornaments from daily life in order to help the deceased through their journey of the underground passages. After the journey, the quality of a persons life after death was determined through an evaluation by the Aztec gods of his/her time on earth. According to the Aztecs, death was nothing to be afraid of, it is the uncertainty of life that should be feared. Christianity shared similar beliefs. They had faith in a heavenly life after death, however, one must live a humble life on earth to achieve such an afterlife. When the Spanish conquered Mexico their success was due, in part, to their willingness to incorporate some of the pre-Hispanic customs into Christian practices. The two cultures were able to coexist rather than one replacing the other. All Saints Day and All Souls’ Day merged into one, serving simply as a recognized time to honor the dead. Elaborate preparations go into the 7 days that make up Dias de los Muertos. Market places are stocked with marigolds and purple cockscomb, bakeries are filled with fresh bread, termed pan de muerto, and sweets. Windows are decorated with skeletons, pumpkins and intricate tissue paper cut outs called papel picado, while the air is saturated with the smell of copal incense and the sound of street musicians. People rush about buying ingredients for mole and tamales which will be made as an offerering to the dead, many times to be eaten later by the living . Cemetaries are lined with families pulling weeds,washing and painting tombstones, and decorating the final resting place of their loved ones. Many families set up altars inside their homes. Some villagers, such as Tehuantepec people, create pyramid shaped altars. These altars serve as a homage to their pre-Hispanic roots since pyramids were the center for religious ceremonies before the arrival of the Spaniards. The pyramids consist of five levels, each one representing a stage in the cycles of life. The first level is birth, the second is life, and death is the third stage. The fourth level represents the transition period and the purification of the soul, while the final tier stands for a return to new life. Candles and pictures are placed upon the altar along with the deceased’s favorite foods and beverages. As mentioned earlier, Dias de los Muertos is an entire week full of festivities and prayer. Each day of the holiday has a specific ritual assigned to it. October 27th to the 30th are set aside for the departed who have unfortunate situations surrounding their death. Villagers leave bread and water in corners of the local churches for those who have no survivors left on earth. Respect is also paid to victims that died by violent measures, food and drink are left outside homes for these pernicious spirits. Children who have passed away, often referred to as los angelitos, rejoin their families on the 30th and the 31st. The children are greeted in the home and offered toys, candy, and miniature pan de muertos on a petite altar, or la ofrenda. They must leave by midday on November 1st so that families can prepare for the arrival of the Faithful Dead. During the ceremonies masked comedians known as comparsa travel with musicians and actors to different homes presenting skits that mock the living. The indigenous people of Mexico combine mourning with laughter, believing that they reflect their fear of death by mocking and living alongside it. Bells ring in the arrival of the departed adults, and candles light their way into the homes of their anticipating families. The graveyards have been strewn with orange and purple flowers and wreaths, a custom that most Mexican families take much pride in. Often times yellow marigolds form breathtaking aromatic sculptures around the tombstones. Called cempazuchitl, the flower is the symbol of death in Mexican culture. After a relaxing afternoon of greeting the dead, the festivities move to the ornate graveyards where socializing and prayer continue throughout the night. A candle is lit for each lost soul. By sundown the cemetary is a glorious site lit up with hundreds of dancing flames. Many of the families will share a dinner comprised of the favorite foods and beverages of those that have passed on. Woman spend a majority of their evening praying while the men continue to share drink and song. By the morning of November 2nd tradition dictates that a special family feast be prepared for this final day. Pan de muerto, which translates into bread of the dead, is served during this feast. Each loaf has a toy skeleton concealed inside that is considered good luck to the person who bites into it. Skulls and skeletons made of sugar are also exchanged on this final day. Many are colorfully decorated with the names of the dead as well as the living. When night falls, masked mummers have the responsiblity of urging the departed souls to return to the world of the dead. Festivities come to a halt and clean up begins. For another year, the living and the dead will walk respectfully side by side continuing the circle of life and the unending cycle of renewal. Come Celebrate Days of the Dead with Crizmac Adventure Travel! Crizmac will be traveling to Oaxaca, Mexico to take part in the fiesta. The travel seminar is open to all interested in learning first hand about the tradition, art, and culture of Mexico. You will have the opportunity to visit graveyard vigils, special markets, historical sites, as well as take part in a folk art tour that includes demos and hands on activities with renowned weavers, ceramic artists, and woodcarvers. Call Crizmac today for more information: 1-800-913-8555, or email us at crizmacinc@aol.com
Days of the Dead Recipe Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead) INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION Bring milk to boil and remove from heat. Stir in margarine or butter, sugar and salt. In a large bowl, mix yeast with warm water until dissolved and let stand 5 minutes. Add the milk mixture. Separate the yolk and white of one egg. Add the yolk to the yeast mixture, but save the white for later. Now add flour to the yeast and egg. Blend well until dough ball is formed. Flower a pastry board or work surface very well and place the dough in center. Knead until smooth. Return to large bowl and cover with dish towel. Let rise in warm place for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Knead dough again on flowered surface. Now divide the dough into fourths and set one aside. Roll the remaining 3 pieces into "ropes". On greased baking sheet, pinch 3 rope ends together and braid. Finish by pinching ends together on opposite side. Divide the remaining dough in half and form 2 "bones." Cross and lay them atop the braided loaf. Cover bread with dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix anise seed, cinnamon and 2 teaspoons sugar together. In another bowl, beat egg white lightly. When 30 minutes are up, brush top of bread with egg white and sprinkle with sugar mixture, except on cross bones. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Days of the Dead Resources Available from Crizmac Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead by Nancy Luenn and Robert Chapman The Days of the Dead: Mexico’s Festival of Communion with the Departed by John Greenleigh and Rosalind Rosoff Beimler Magic Window Set (Papel Picado) by Carmen Lomas Garza Mexican Papercutting by Kathleen Trenchard CRIZMAC Days of the Dead Curriculum Resource by Stevie Mack, Amy Metcalfe and Nancy Walkup Dia de los Muertos T-Shirt, 100% cotton, black Skeleton At the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico by Elizabeth Carmichael and Chloe Sayer
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