Dia de los Muertos, also known as “Day of the Dead” is a two day national Mexican holiday that celebrates and remembers the death of loved ones. This holiday has a rich history that involves more then dressing up in costumes and going trick-or-treating. This is the countries largest celebration of the year, that is now celebrated in countries around the world well beyond Guatemala, Brazil, Spain, and Mexican-American communities in the United States. Dia de los Muertos is observed November 1st and 2nd . November 1st is used to honor the deceased youth known as Dia de Los Inocentes or Dia de los Angelitos also known as Day of the Little Angels. The adults for Dia de los Muertos are honored on November 2nd. In some other beliefs the Day of the Dead is a three-day holiday that begins on October 31st, when some believe the souls of young children arise at midnight on Halloween eve.
On Dia de los Muertos, families gather to celebrate and remember those who have passed on as well as build an altar in their homes to pay respect to the deceased. The dead are honored with sugar skulls, chocolate, marigolds which are the Mexican flower of death, sweetbreads and trinkets. Families also deliver ofrendas, or “offerings” to the grave sites of their relatives and hold vigils with candles along with photos.
Dia de los Muertos is traced all the way back to the Aztecs who celebrated with a festival for the goddess of the underworld known as, Mictecacihuatle, and the Catholic Spanish conquistadors “All Saints’ and All Souls’ days. Many Scholars have associated Dia de los Muertos with the native cultures of Mexico honoring the Lady of the Dead, the modern La Catrina which many recognize today as the skeleton woman wearing a fancy hat. According to the legend, La Catrina was a selfish, greedy rich woman who did nothing to help the poor. She is now mocked by many people every year by dressing in ornate garb, painting their faces white and detailing features to look like a caricature of a beautiful skeleton.
Dia de los Muertos has become a modern phenomenon that influences the fashion world. We see the notorious sugar skulls portrayed through extravagant makeup. All different colors and designs are painted on the face to express the person's creativity. We see this makeup statement meshed with the Halloween tradition put into full on costumes! Ultimately, the root of the skull trend rooted from this tradition. Skulls are created within nail polish designs, clothes, accessories, and even shoes... Alexander McQueen being a prime example! Skulls are becoming more and more elaborate and detailed by the seasons!
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