The Day of the Dead

Eli Whitney Museum

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El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and relatives who have died.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated on the second day of November in commemoration of family and friends who have passed away. It is thought that on this day the barrier between this world and the next is thinner and thus it is easier for spirits to visit their loved ones. Originally this day was celebrated by the indigenous people of Mexico, such as the Aztecs and Mayans, with real skulls but today people make sugar skulls and build elaborate altars for the dead. People also decorate the graves of the diseased with food, drinks and flowers and often bring the favorite food or candy of the diseased. Many families also spend the night at the grave site to feel the presence of their loved ones.

El Día de los Muertos

El Día de los Muertos es celebrado el segundo día de Noviembre en conmemoración de familia y amigos quienes han fallecido. Es pensado que en esta día la barrera entre este mundo y el de los muertos es mas delgado y entonces es mas fácil para que los espíritus visiten a sus parientes. Originalmente este día era celebrado por la gente indígena de México, como los Aztecas y Mayas, con calaveras reales pero hoy la gente hace calaveras de azúcar y construyen altares elaborados para los muertos. La gente también decora las tumbas de sus seres queridos con comidas, pan dulce, bebidas y flores. Muchas familias también pasan la noche en los cementerios para sentir la presencia de sus parientes fallecidos.

Day of the Dead skeleton.jpg

day of the dead skeleton

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