Día de los Muertos, November 1st, 2018 (english version)

Día de los Muertos is a typical Mexican holiday that starts from November 1 and ends on November 2 of each year. In the catholic celebrations, it is denominated as Day of the Faithful Deceased and All the Saints. All those who have died and enjoy eternal life are remembered, even without being saints. We also remember children who died at an early age.

In our traditions, our dead enter the earthly world to live with their living relatives through offerings placed at the foot of their graves, thus ensuring their help and support throughout the year to renew the cycle. Mexicans honor the dead by visiting cemeteries and preparing altars for the dead in each home. The souls of our loved ones return during these days to be close to their family and loved ones.

National Museum of the Viceroyalty, Tepotzotlán, State of Mexico

This celebration is recognized in a large part of the world, since UNESCO recognized it as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2008.

Plaza Virreinal, center of Tepotzotlán. People go out to live, walk and make preparations for the holiday of the dead.

Despite the pain that may be caused by the death of a loved one, the truth is that we will all face this destiny one day. Our ancestors were very aware of this, and learned to receive it as a state of transition ("Death is a symptom that there was once life" - Mario Benedetti).

The municipality carries out year after year the assembly of a huge series of offerings, which serve as a tourist attraction.

Altars are built in the pantheons or in the houses. Originally these consisted of 7 levels, represented as the paths that souls go through to reach their destination of spiritual rest. Each step is covered with tablecloths, shredded paper, banana leaves, palm leaves and tule mats; Each step has a different meaning.

Route of the offering in the church of San Marcos, Tepotzotlán.

On the top step, the image of the saint of family devotion is placed; in the next one, the purgatory souls are represented; in the third salt is placed as a symbol of purification. The fourth level is occupied by bread, which is food and consecration. The fifth level contains fruit and those dishes preferred by the deceased. The sixth contains the photograph or photographs of the deceased to whom the altar is dedicated and at the end, on the seventh level and in contact with the earth, a cross made with flowers, seeds or fruit.

The people in Tepotzotlan go out to make the preparations for the following days, buying flowers for the tombs of their loved ones, cleaning the graves themselves and preparing the offerings.

Entrance of the church of San Marcos, Tepotzotlán.