DAY OF THE DEAD

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration that honors pre-Hispanic to the dead on November 2, beginning on November 1, coinciding with the Catholic celebrations of All Souls Day and All Saints. It's a Mexican holiday that is celebrated in some Central American countries and in many communities in the United States, where there is a large Mexican and Central American population. Unesco has declared the Mexican holiday as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. [1] The Day of the Dead is a day celebrated in Brazil, as two Souls' Day, although this holiday does not have the same roots that pre-Hispanic Mexican holiday. The origins of the celebration of Day of the Dead in Mexico predate the arrival of the Spanish. No record of ethnic celebrations in Mexico, Maya, Purepecha and Totonac. The rituals that celebrate the life of the ancestors in these civilizations are made from at least three thousand years ago. In pre-Hispanic era it was common practice to keep skulls as trophies and display them during rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. The festival became the Day of the Dead marked the ninth month of the Aztec solar calendar, near the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecachuatl, known as the "Lady Death" (currently associated with the "Catrina", a character of Jos Guadalupe Posada) and wife of Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the land of the dead. The festivities were dedicated to the celebration of children and the lives of dead relatives. Death is a strong symbol that has caused admiration, fear and uncertainty to humans throughout history. For many years, in various cultures have created beliefs about death that have successfully developed a series of rituals and traditions either to worship, honor, scare and even sneer. Mexico is a country rich in culture and traditions, one of the main aspects that make up its identity as a nation is the concept we have about death and all the traditions and beliefs that revolve around it. However, it is noteworthy that this celebration is for all Mexicans because, despite being a party that has become a national symbol and as such is taught (educational purposes) in schools in the country, There are many families who are more attached to celebrate "All Saints Day" as they do in other Catholic countries. Also, include the strong influence of the United States, at least in border areas, evidenced by the presence of the holiday known as Halloween, which is celebrated each year with more frequency and greater number of households. That is also why there is concern among Mexicans themselves want to preserve the Day of the Dead as part of Mexican culture on other similar celebrations.