The most popular tradition of Mexicans for being a maximum expression of culture, folklore and history.

1.  The Day of the Dead is a tradition that mixes the Catholic religion with pre-Hispanic rituals, originating from the Mexican, Mixtec, Texcocan, Zapotec, Tlaxcalans and Totonac cultures.

2. According to the indigenous cosmogony that gives rise to this tradition; The ritual consists of preparing an altar for our dead, so that they can come to visit us and enjoy their favorite objects and dishes for one night. These "visits" have nothing creepy, since we Mexicans interpret death as a state of eternal transcendence, and not an absolute end. That is, when we die our soul travels to Mictlán or Chiconauhmictlán (underworld) to rest, but every Day of the Dead has the opportunity to visit the world of the living thanks to the path that living relatives trace for them through their offerings. 

3. During October and November in Mexico you can try the "pan de muerto". Its circular shape refers to a skull; which in turn carries strips of bread on top, plus a ball in the center, symbolizing bones. This is a sweet bread, dusted with sugar and flavored with orange blossom: the taste of remembrance for our loved ones.

4.  In 2003, United Nations proclaimed this tradition a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”.  .

5.  The elements that should not be missing in an offering, so your loved ones can  find their way to you -no matter where  you are- are: Water, and petals of Cempoal xóchitl (the flower of 20 petals), candles, confetti (papel picado), sugar or chocolate skulls, "burials" (entierros), incense, copal, salt; as well as the dishes, drinks and favorite things of your dear deceased.

6. The offering must have papel picado and 3 levels to represent the overworld, world and underworld or Mictlán - although the latter itself consists of 9-. On top of the levels the Cempasúchil petals should be scattered to guide the way and light candles to illuminate it; followed by placing the skulls with the names of the dead and their photographs; put water, salt, incense and copal to purify the path. Likewise, “the burials” must be accommodated with a cross of petals on top, along with food, drink and even favorite objects of those who will visit us.

7. The offering can be thematic. Museums, universities, schools and even government institutions dedicate offerings to famous Mexican personalities.

8. Mexicans remember their dear departed from October 28 to November 1 and 2. First it is the turn to celebrate those who died in accidents or tragic causes (October 28); followed by those who were left in limbo for not being baptized (October 30); on November 1st, they wait for the arrival of the “little” dead or the children (All Saints' Day). The closure takes place a day later with the dead adults (the faithful departed) on November 2nd.

9. CDMX has organized a parade for the Day of the Dead since 2016. This after the great call that was made for the filming of the movie "Specter" of the James Bond saga [2]. This year due, to respect the sanitary measures against contagion by COVID-19, the parade will be held virtually. 

10. Regardless, in Mexican homes it is customary to mount the offerings or visit the pantheons to adorn the graves of their loved ones.

11. The town of San Andrés Mixquic, located at the southeastern end of the Tláhuac mayor's office, is the one that has best preserved the tradition of offerings and rituals in the pantheons. There preparations are made months in advance, and on the day (s) of the dead you can even see groups of mariachis, and entire families gathered around the graves.

12. This custom is the appropriation and adaptation of Halloween to the celebrations of the Day of the Dead. Usually, throughout Mexico, children leave their homes disguised in the company of their parents, and go from house to house asking for a “calaverita”: sweets or gifts. As is done with the ritual of "Trick or treat" in the United States or "Süss oder sauer" in Vienna, Austria.

13. What do children sing when they ask for a skull? The songs are very original since they vary according to the colony, state and the person to whom they are addressed. The most popular say: "Pretty lady, give me my skull, Mr. potbellied give me my peach" and "My skull is hungry, is there a candy out there?".

14.  According to the beliefs of the ancient Mexicans, when a person dies his soul travels through 7 or 9 spiritual levels before coming to rest in Mictlán - the stages vary according to what is established in the codices and traditions of each pre-Hispanic culture. The 9 levels - which remind us a bit of the Divine Comedy - are: 1) Izcuintlan or "place of the dogs"; 2) Tepetl monamicyan or "place of the hills that come together"; 3) Iztepetl or "obsidian closure"; 4) Itzehecayan or "place of the obsidian wind"; 5) Pancuecuetlacayan or "place where people fly"; 6) Temiminaloyan "place where people are shot"; 7) Teyollocualoyan or "place where the heart is devoured"; 8) Itzmictlan apochcalocan or “smoking temple” and 9) Mictlán or “place of the dead”. 

15.  According to the Mexica, Zapotec and Mixtec cultures, the god of death was Miclantecuhtli, whose name means "the lord of Mictlán"  ”.

  

[1] https://es.unesco.org/news/dia-muertos-regreso-lo-querido-0 

[2] Photography of  “La Crónica de Xalapa” newspaper https://cronicadexalapa.com/realizaran-desfile-de-dia-de-muertos-al-estilo-007/ 

[3] For more information go to The Secretary of Culture in CDMX.

[4]Algarabía Magazine, “Altar de día de muertos”, available on: https://algarabia.com/de-donde-viene/el-altar-de-dia-de-muertos-una-tradicion-viva/

[5] INAHI, the Miclantecuhtli Altar, a masterpiece of clay modeling, article available at:  https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/599-el-altar-a-mictlantecuhtli-obra-maestra-del-modelado-en-barro