Every year, while much of the world staggers around in a hung-over stupor after a night of mocking death, Mexicans worldwide celebrate their most important holiday of the year – Dia de los Muertos – from November 1st to November 2nd. While Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in many countries, it was founded in Mexico, but the roots of this celebration of the dead go back thousands of years, as the honoring of the dead through festivals was a common practice of many of the indigenous cultures that inhabited the territory known as Mexico, most notably the Aztecs. The Aztec celebration of Mictecacihuatl was merged with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day after the Spanish invaded their territory and forced their beliefs on them. The concept of honoring those who have died, and setting aside days to spend with them in spirit, is a beautiful one. The altars that people build in their homes and communities are meant to welcome dead relatives and friends back to the land of the living for a couple of short days, and cemeteries become gorgeous, candlelit party grounds. Far from the slimy zombies that Halloween offers us, cemeteries that are decorated for Dia de los Muertos are warm and welcoming, covered in marigolds and brightly colored decorations. Definitely what I would want to see if I came back from the grave, rather than a bunch of machete-wielding angry survivors trying to chop my head off. Maybe if I rose to find flowers, tequila and Marlboros waiting for me, I wouldn’t want to eat your brains. Check out some beautiful Dia de los Muertos altars and cemeteries below…
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