10 reasons why Mexico celebrates Death
“Our cult of death is a cult of life,” said our renowned Mexican poet and essayist, Octavio Paz. Here are the 10 reasons why Mexico celebrates death.
Unique celebrations of Mexicans to the world
It has become a classic response from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro when he won two Golden Globes, including the award for best director, for his film “The Shape of Water.” During a press conference, a reporter from the Chinese news agency Xinhua asked him, “You have an extraordinary ability to see the dark side of human nature, fantasy, and horror, yet you are a really cheerful and loving person. How do you achieve that balance?”
Del Toro immediately responded, “Because I’m Mexican,” amid laughter and applause from the audience. On November 2nd, Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead, a day when we all affirm, like Del Toro, “because we are Mexican.” The Day of the Dead celebration is one of the most important in the country and represents the tip of the iceberg of a culture where death is much more familiar, something to joke about, and something to be honored.
That’s why we present you with 10 reasons why Mexico loves death and has a special relationship with the culture of death that fascinates the rest of the world.
1. Cult of Death
The cult of death is a pre-Hispanic practice, an ancient tradition. In fact, the Mexica calendar shows that among the 18 months that make up this calendar, there were at least six celebrations dedicated to the deceased. Celebrations of death are documented among the Toltecs, Mexicas, Mayas, Purépechas, and Totonacs. Among pre-Hispanic peoples, it was common to preserve skulls as trophies and display them during rituals symbolizing death.
2. Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead is a national symbol and a part of our culture. We celebrate our deceased by visiting cemeteries, adorning graves with flowers, and setting up altars in our homes to welcome the spirits of our loved ones from beyond. It’s a day when the living and the dead share food and drink, and families gather at cemeteries to sing to the graves, creating a festive atmosphere.
3. La Catrina
Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913), known for his engravings, made death one of his recurring themes, depicting it as an elegantly dressed skeleton. This gave birth to La Catrina Garbancera, an iconic figure of the Mexican Day of the Dead.
4. All Saints’ Day
The celebration of the saints is related to the strong religious beliefs of millions of Mexicans. It represents pride and a sense of belonging to a country with unique rituals distinct from Halloween celebrated in the United States and around the world. While Halloween customs have spread worldwide, our own rituals continue with their unique cultural associations.
5. Funeral food
Children are familiar with the theme of death, with drawings that explain the Day of the Dead, and many receive the classic “calaverita,” small skull-shaped candies. There are hundreds of sweets with funeral motifs. Pan de Muerto, a traditional bread baked with bone-shaped figures and sugar skulls, is a common treat.
6. The display of the dead in a museum
Various terms are used to refer to death, such as La Huesuda, La Calaca, La Catrina, La Parca, La Dama de Negro, La Santa Muerte, La Novia Fiel, and many more. Moreover, there are museums dedicated to death, such as the Guanajuato museum, where the remains of individuals buried there, mummified due to the local soil, are displayed. The exhumed bodies, dated from 1865 to 1989, can be observed at the Mummies Museum in the city, which has become one of its main tourist attractions.
7. Calaveritas
In schools, humorous and satirical verses dedicated to death are written. These “calaveritas literarias” are small poems that often target living individuals, including politicians, and humorously address their inevitable encounter with death.
8. Rituals of remembrance of the dead
Throughout the country, there are thousands of rituals to remember the deceased. These range from simple acts like setting up an altar with marigolds and photos of the deceased to more unusual rituals, such as the one held at the cemetery of Pomuch in the Mayan region of southern Mexico. There, the bones of the deceased are exhumed and cleaned every November 2nd as a tribute to the dead.
9. The cult of the Santa Muerte
The cult of Santa Muerte has become a significant religion in the country, and the Vatican is trying to counter the faith professed by thousands of people, particularly in many tough neighborhoods in Mexico City. It is said that many of its followers do not engage in charity work. Santa Muerte is depicted as a skeleton wearing a robe resembling a virgin, and people pray to her, light candles, sing to her, and offer her various offerings throughout the year, often associated with rituals and various forms of magic.
10. Death merchandise
There is a wide range of death-related merchandise, including keychains, earrings, t-shirts, backpacks, and even shoes, where death, not just the figure of Santa Muerte but also that of La Catrina and skulls in various forms, from the cute to the grotesque, can be seen everywhere.
