Day of the Dead - Citizendia

For other uses, see Day of the Dead (disambiguation).

"Dia De Los Muertos" redirects here. For other uses, see Dia De Los Muertos (disambiguation).

Sugar skull given for the Day of the Dead, also made with chocolate and amaranto. Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth or pigweed, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage (and others) living in the United States and Canada. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and relatives who have died. The celebration occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November, in connection with the Catholic holy days of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day which take place on those days. For the British girl group see All Saints (band. All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows or Hallowmas) often In Western Christianity, All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, and using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. Observance of the holiday in Mexican-American communities in the United States has become more important and widespread as the community grows numerically and economically. See also History of Mexican-Americans Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican ancestry The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Mexican-style Day of the Dead festivities have spread around the world, including to Europe and New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island

Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl (known in English as "The Lady of the Dead"). Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political In Aztec mythology, Mictecacihuatl is the Queen of Mictlan, the Underworld, ruling over the Afterlife with Mictlantecuhtli

Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world; for example, it is a public holiday in Brazil, where many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray to their loved ones who have died. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the Philippines, and similarly-themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The culture of Asia is the artificial aggregate of the Cultural heritage of many nationalities, societies, Religions and Ethnic groups The Culture of Africa encompasses and includes all cultures which were ever in the continent of Africa.

1 Observance in Mexico
- 1.1 Origins of Day of the Dead
- 1.2 Beliefs
2 Observances outside Mexico
3 In fiction
4 See also
5 Further reading
6 External links

Observance in Mexico

Origins of Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mexican, Aztec, Maya, P'urhépecha, and Totonac. The Olmec were an ancient Pre-Columbian people living in the Tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in what are roughly the modern-day states The Mixtec (or Mixteca) are an indigenous Mesoamerican people inhabiting the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla The Mexica ( Nahuatl: Mēxihcah, meːˈʃiʔkaʔ or Mexicans ( Spanish: Mexicanos) were an indigenous people of the Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerican Civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the Pre-Columbian Americas The P'urhépecha, sometimes referred to as Tarascan or Purépecha are an indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of the Mexican The Totonac people resided in the eastern coastal and mountainous regions of Mexico at the time of the Spanish arrival in 1519. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500–3000 years. ^[1] In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.

The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The Aztec calendar is the Calendar system that was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl,^[2] known as the "Lady of the Dead," corresponding to the modern Catrina. In Aztec mythology, Mictecacihuatl is the Queen of Mictlan, the Underworld, ruling over the Afterlife with Mictlantecuhtli La Calavera de la Catrina is a 1913 Zinc Etching by Mexican Printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.

In most regions of Mexico, November 1st honors deceased children and infants where as deceased adults are honored on November 2nd. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1st mainly as "Día de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents) but also as "Día de los Angelitos" (Day of the Little Angels) and November 2nd as "Día de los Muertos" or "Día de los Difuntos" (Day of the Dead). ^[3]

Beliefs

Graveside ofrenda (altar) in Morelia, Mexico

Detail of an "Ofrenda" in Ciudad Universitaria, México.

Many people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed, and will build private altars, containing the favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed. ^[3]

Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the period of November 1 and November 2, families usually clean and decorate graves;^[2] most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigolds called "cempasúchitl" (originally named cempoalxochitl, Nahuatl for "twenty (i. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Tagetes is a Genus of 52 species of annual and perennial Herbaceous plants in the Daisy family ( Asteraceae or Nahuatl ( is a group of related languages and dialects of the Aztecan or Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family e. , many) flowers"). In modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto" ("Flower of the Dead"). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings. The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living

Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or little angels), and bottles of tequila, mezcal, pulque or atole for adults. Tequila is an agave-based spirit made primarily in the area surrounding Tequila, in the northwest of Guadalajara and in the highlands ( Mezcal (from Nahuatl mexcalli, "earth roast maguey hearts" wrongly known as 'mescal' is a Mexican distilled spirit protected by International Pulque, or octli, is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of the Maguey, and is a traditional native beverage Atole ( Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl atolli) is a traditional Cornstarch -based Mexican and Central American (where it is known as Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The pan de muerto is a type of Bread from Mexico baked during the Día de los Muertos season around September and October (holiday on November 2 The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. ^[2] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrenda food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, Pátzcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. San Andrés Mixquic is a small town located in the Tláhuac borough of the Mexican Federal District, on the south-eastern fringes of Mexico City Pátzcuaro, which means "city of stones" in the Purepecha language is a city and its surrounding municipality in the central part of the Mexican Isla de Janitzio, located at, is the main island of Lake Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.

Catrinas, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico

Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes. La Calavera de la Catrina is a 1913 Zinc Etching by Mexican Printmaker José Guadalupe Posada. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used ^[2] These altars usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, and scores of candles. The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity. This ecumenical article is about general Christian views on and veneration of the Virgin Mary Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing so when they dance the dead will wake up because of the noise. Some will dress up as the deceased.

Public schools at all levels build altars with offerings, usually omitting the religious symbols. Government offices usually have at least a small altar, as this holiday is seen as important to the Mexican heritage.

Those with writing talent sometimes create short poems, called "calaveras" ("skulls"), mocking epitaphs of friends, sometimes describing interesting habits and attitudes or some funny anecdotes. An epitaph (in Greek, &mdash literally " on the gravestone " is a short text honoring a deceased person strictly speaking that inscribed on This custom originated in the 18th-19th century, after a newspaper published a poem narrating a dream of a cemetery in the future, "and all of us were dead", proceeding to "read" the tombstones. Newspapers dedicate calaveras to public figures, with cartoons of skeletons in the style of José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator. A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. The word cartoon has various meanings based on several very different forms of Visual art and Illustration. In Biology, the skeleton is a strong and often a rigid framework that supports the body of an animal holding it upright and giving it shape and strength (Also skeletal José Guadalupe Posada ( 2 February 1852 &ndash 20 January 1913) was a Mexican engraver and illustrator. Theatrical presentations of Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla (1817–1893) are also traditional on this day. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one Don Juan Tenorio Drama religioso-fantástico en dos partes (Don Juan Tenorio Religious-Fantasy Drama in Two Parts is a play written in 1844 by José Zorrilla y Moral ( February 21, 1817 - January 23, 1893) was a Spanish Romantic Poet and Dramatist

Island Pacanda, Lake Patzcuaro Mexico - Dia de los Muertos

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (colloquially called calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for "skeleton"), and foods such as sugar skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. The musical instrument is spelled Cymbal. A symbol is something --- such as an object, Picture, written word a sound a piece The word calavera, Spanish for " Skull " can refer to a number of cultural phenomena associated with the Mexican celebration of the A mask is an artefact normally worn on the face typically for protection concealment performance or amusement For the municipality in the Philippines see Calaca Batangas A calaca (a colloquial Mexican Spanish name for Skeleton) is Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both the living and the dead. Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes, from plain rounds to skulls and rabbits often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones. An egg is a round or oval body laid by the female of many animals consisting of an Ovum surrounded by layers of Membranes and an outer casing which acts to nourish Rabbits are small Mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world

José Guadalupe Posada created a famous print of a figure that he called the "calavera de la catrina" ("calavera of the female dandy"), as a parody of a Mexican upper class female. José Guadalupe Posada ( 2 February 1852 &ndash 20 January 1913) was a Mexican engraver and illustrator. The word calavera, Spanish for " Skull " can refer to a number of cultural phenomena associated with the Mexican celebration of the Posada's striking image of a costumed female with a skeleton face has become associated with the Day of the Dead, and Catrina figures often are a prominent part of modern Day of the Dead observances. La Calavera de la Catrina is a 1913 Zinc Etching by Mexican Printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.

The traditions and activities that take place in celebration of the Day of the Dead are not universal and often vary from town to town. For example, in the town of Pátzcuaro on the Lago de Pátzcuaro in Michoacán the tradition is very different if the deceased is a child rather than an adult. Pátzcuaro, which means "city of stones" in the Purepecha language is a city and its surrounding municipality in the central part of the Mexican Lake Pátzcuaro (Spanish Lago de Pátzcuaro) is a Lake in the municipality of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico. Michoacán formally Michoacán de Ocampo (from Nahuatl Michhuacān "place of the fishermen" is one of the 31 constituent states On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the godparents set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, pan de muerto, a cross, a Rosary (used to ask the Virgin Mary to pray for them) and candles. A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's Baptism. This is meant to celebrate the child’s life, in respect and appreciation for the parents. There is also dancing with colorful costumes, often with skull-shaped masks and devil masks in the plaza or garden of the town. At midnight on November 2, the people light candles and ride winged boats called mariposas (Spanish for "butterfly") to Janitzio, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there.

Pan de muerto, traditionally eaten on the holiday

In contrast, the town of Ocotepec, north of Cuernavaca in the State of Morelos opens its doors to visitors in exchange for 'veladoras' (small wax candles) to show respect for the recently dead. This article is about Ocotepec Morelos. Other similarly named towns exist Ocotepec Puebla; Ocotepec Chiapas. Cuernavaca (Cuauhnāhuac|kʷaw̥'naːwak is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. Morelos is one of the constituent States of Mexico. Morelos has an area of about, making it the second-smallest of the country's states In return, the visitors receive tamales and 'atole'. A tamale ( Spanish tamal, from Nahuatl tamalli) is a traditional indigenous American food consisting of steam-cooked corn This is only done by the owners of the house where somebody in the household has died in the previous year. Many people of the surrounding areas arrive early to eat for free and enjoy the elaborate altars set up to receive the visitors from 'Mictlán'.

In some parts of the country, children in costumes roam the streets, asking passersby for a calaverita, a small gift of money; they don't knock on people's doors.

Some people believe that possessing "dia de los muertos" items can bring good luck. Many people get tattoos or have dolls of the dead to carry with them. They also clean their houses and prepare the favorite dishes of their deceased loved ones to place upon an altar.

Observances outside Mexico

A Day of the Dead altar in Los Angeles pays homage to "dead" (cancelled) television shows, with traditional marigolds, sugar skulls and candles. In television cancellation (known as axing in Australia and the United Kingdom refers to the termination of a program by the network, typically because

United States

In many U. S. communities with immigrants from Mexico, Day of the Dead celebrations are held, very similar to those held in Mexico. In some of these communities, such as in Texas^[4] and Arizona,^[5] the celebrations tend to be mostly traditional. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. For example, the All Souls’ Procession has been an annual Tucson event since 1990. Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast The event combines elements of traditional Dia de los Muertos celebrations with those of pagan harvest festivals. People wearing masks carry signs honoring the dead and an urn in which people can put slips of paper with prayers on them to be burned. ^[6]

In other communities, interactions between Mexican traditions and American culture are resulting in celebrations in which Mexican traditions are being extended to make artistic or sometimes political statements. For example, in Los Angeles, California, the Self Help Graphics & Art Mexican-American cultural center presents an annual Day of the Dead celebration, that includes both traditional and political elements, such as altars to honor the victims of the Iraq War highlighting the high casualty rate among Latino soldiers. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Self-Help Graphics & Art Inc is a Community arts center in East Los Angeles California, USA The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign An updated, inter-cultural version of the Day of the Dead is also evolving at a cemetery near Hollywood. ^[7] There, in a mixture of Mexican traditions and Hollywood hip, conventional altars are set up side-by-side with altars to Jayne Mansfield and Johnny Ramone. Jayne Mansfield (April 19 1933 – June 29 1967 was an American actress working both on Broadway and in Hollywood. John William Cummings (October 8 1948 &ndash September 15 2004 better known by the stage name Johnny Ramone, was the Guitarist for the seminal Punk rock Colorful native dancers and music intermix with performance artists, while sly pranksters play on traditional themes. This article is about Performance art For other uses see Performance (disambiguation

Similar traditional and inter-cultural updating of Mexican celebrations is occurring in San Francisco,^[8] for example through the Galería de la Raza, SomArts Cultural Center, Mission Cultural Center, de Young Museum, and in Missoula, Montana, where skeletal celebrants on stilts, novelty bicycles, and skis parade through town. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Galería de la Raza ( GDLR) is a Non-profit Art gallery and Artist collective that serves the heavily- Latino population of San The MH de Young Museum (commonly called de Young Museum) is a Fine arts Museum located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. ^[9] It also occurs annually at historic Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Sponsored by Forest Hills Educational Trust and the folkloric performance group La Piñata, the Day of the Dead celebration celebrates the cycle of life and death. People bring offerings of flowers, photos, mementos, mentos, and food for their departed loved ones which they place at an elaborately and colorfully decorated altar. A program of traditional music and dance also accompanies the community event.

Europe and elsewhere

Observance of a Mexican-style Day of the Dead has spread to Europe as well. In Prague, Czech Republic, for example, local citizens celebrate the Day of the Dead with masks, candles, and sugar skulls. Prague (ˈprɑːg Praha (ˈpraɦa see also other names) is the Capital and Largest city of the Czech Republic. ^[10] Mexican-style Day of the Dead celebrations can also be found in Wellington, New Zealand, complete with altars celebrating the deceased with flowers and gifts. Wellington (ˈwælɪŋtən is the Capital of New Zealand, the country's second largest urban area, the ^[11]

Similar celebrations

Latin America

Guatemalan celebrations of the Day of the Dead are highlighted by the construction and flying of giant kites^[12] in addition to the traditional visits to gravesites of ancestors. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest A big event also is the consumption of fiambre that is made only for this day during the year. Fiambre is a traditional food from Guatemala that is eaten on November 1st and 2nd "^[13]

The Brazilian public holiday of "Finados" (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 2. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Similar to other Day of the Dead celebrations, people go to cemeteries and churches, with flowers, candles, and prayer. The celebration is intended to be positive, to celebrate those who are deceased.

In Haiti, voodoo traditions mix with Roman Catholic Day of the Dead observances, as, for example, loud drums and music are played at all-night celebrations at cemeteries to waken Baron Samedi, the god of the dead, and his mischievous family of offspring, the Gede. Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: In Vodou or voodoo, Baron Samedi ( Baron Saturday, also Baron Samdi Bawon Samedi or Bawon Sanmdi) is one of the aspects of Baron

Dia de los ñatitas (Day of the Skulls) is a festival celebrated in La Paz, Bolivia on November 9th. Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative Capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all In pre-Columbian times, indigenous Andeans had a tradition of sharing a day with the bones of their ancestors on the third year after burial, however only the skulls are used today. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences Traditionally, the skull of one or more family members are kept at home to watch over the family and protect them during the year. On November 9th, the family crowns the skull with fresh flowers, sometimes also dressing it up in various garments, and makes offerings of cigarettes, coca leaves, alcohol, and various other items in thanks for the year's protection. The skulls are also sometimes taken to the central cemetery in La Paz for a special mass and blessing. ^[14]^[15]^[16]

Flowers, including Mexican marigolds, used in the celebration of the Day of the Dead

Asia

In the Philippines, the holiday is called Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead), Todos Los Santos or Undas (the latter two due to the fact that this holiday is celebrated on November 1, All Saints Day), and has more of a "family reunion" atmosphere. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi ^[17] Tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Entire families camp in cemeteries, and sometimes spend a night or two near their relatives' tombs. Card games, eating, drinking, singing and dancing are common activities in the cemetery. It is considered a very important holiday by many Filipinos (after Christmas and Holy Week), and additional days are normally given as special non-working holidays (but only November 1 is a regular holiday). Holy Week ( Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week" in Christianity is the last week before Easter. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi

Europe

In many countries with a Roman Catholic heritage, All Saints Day and All Souls Day have long been holidays where people take the day off work, go to cemeteries with candles and flowers, and give presents to children, usually sweets and toys. For the British girl group see All Saints (band. All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows or Hallowmas) often In Western Christianity, All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed. ^[18] In Portugal and Spain, ofrendas (offerings) are made on this day. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. In Spain, the play Don Juan Tenorio is traditionally performed. Don Juan Tenorio Drama religioso-fantástico en dos partes (Don Juan Tenorio Religious-Fantasy Drama in Two Parts is a play written in 1844 by In Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Ireland, people bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives and say prayers over the dead. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world In Poland,^[19] Slovakia,^[20] Hungary,^[21] Lithuania,^[22] Croatia,^[23] Slovenia,^[24] Romania,^[25] Austria, Germany and Sweden, the tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. In Tyrol, cakes are left for them on the table and the room kept warm for their comfort. Tyrol is a region in Western Central Europe, which included the present day Austrian state of Tyrol (consisting of North Tyrol and East In Brittany, people flock to the cemeteries at nightfall to kneel, bareheaded, at the graves of their loved ones, and to anoint the hollow of the tombstone with holy water or to pour libations of milk on it. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into A headstone, tombstone or gravestone is a marker normally carved from stone, placed over or next to the site of a Burial Holy water can also refer to water that has been blessed, such as by a Priest, and is considered Holy. Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. At bedtime, the supper is left on the table for the souls. ^[26]

Other similar cultural traditions

Many other cultures around the world have similar traditions of a day set aside to visit the graves of deceased family members. Often included in these traditions are celebrations, food and beverages, in addition to prayers and remembrances of the departed.

The Bon Festival (O-bon (お盆, O-bon^?) or only Bon (盆, Bon^?) is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed spirits of one's ancestors. For the spanish municipality see Obón. or just is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased Spirits For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath An ancestor is a Parent or ( recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i This Buddhist festival has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. Often an annual event a family reunion takes place on a specified day each year for the purpose of keeping an Extended family closer together Traditionally including a dance festival, it has existed in Japan for more than 500 years. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. This holiday is three days in August.

In Korea, Chuseok is a major traditional holiday, also called Hankawi (한가위,中秋节). Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Chuseok, originally known as Hangawi (한가위 (from archaic Korean for "great middle" is a major Harvest festival and a three-day holiday People go where the spirits of one's ancestors are enshrined, and perform ancestral worship rituals early in the morning; they visit the tombs of immediate ancestors to trim plants and clean the area around the tomb, and offer food, drink, and crops to their ancestors.

The Qingming Festival (traditional Chinese: 清明節; simplified Chinese: 清明节; pinyin: qīng míng jié) is a traditional Chinese festival usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. The Qingming Festival ( Vietnamese language: Tết Thanh Minh meaning Clear and Bright Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The Traditional Chinese holidays have been part of Chinese tradition for thousands of years they are an essential part of Chinese culture. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today Along with Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar, it is a time to tend to the graves of departed ones. The Double Ninth Festival ( or, also or Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong, Vietnamese language: Tết Trùng Cửu observed on the ninth day of the The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a Lunar calendar with those of a Solar calendar. In addition, in the Chinese tradition, the seventh month in the Chinese calendar is called the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits come out from the underworld to visit earth. The Ghost Festival ( is a traditional Chinese Festival and Holiday, which is celebrated by Chinese in many countries

During the Nepali holiday of Gai Jatra ("Cow Pilgrimage") every family where a family member died during the previous year makes a construction of bamboo branches, cloth, paper decorations and portraits of the deceased, called a "gai. " Traditionally, a cow leads the spirits of the dead into the next land. Depending on local custom, either an actual live cow, or a construct representing a cow may be used. The festival is also a time to dress up in costume, including costumes involving political comments and satire. ^[27]

In some cultures in Africa, visits to the graves of ancestors, the leaving of food and gifts, and the asking of protection serve as important parts of traditional rituals. One example of this is the ritual that occurs just before the beginning of hunting season. ^[28]

In fiction

The novel Under the Volcano (1947) by Malcolm Lowry takes place on this day in a fictionalized Cuernavaca, Morelos. Under the Volcano is a 1947 semi-autobiographical novel by English writer Malcolm Lowry. Malcolm Lowry ( July 28, 1909 &ndash June 26, 1957) was an English poet and novelist best known for his novel Under Cuernavaca (Cuauhnāhuac|kʷaw̥'naːwak is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico.
Ray Bradbury's novel The Halloween Tree (1972) includes an explanation of the holiday as part of a greater worldwide tradition, and features a Mexican sugar skull as a key plot device. The Halloween Tree is a 1972 Fantasy Novel by American author Ray Bradbury.
The PC game Grim Fandango is inspired by the Day of the Dead and features imagery greatly drawn from the festival including characters reminiscent of the skeletal calaca figures. Grim Fandango is a graphic adventure computer game released by LucasArts in and primarily written by Tim Schafer. For the municipality in the Philippines see Calaca Batangas A calaca (a colloquial Mexican Spanish name for Skeleton) is
Barbara Hambly's novel Days Of The Dead (2003) sets its climax on this day in 1835. Barbara Hambly (born August 28, 1951) is an award winning and prolific American Novelist and Screenwriter within the genres of
In the film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), some traditional Day of the Dead sugar skulls can be seen in storage shelves while Harry enters the candy store Honeydukes through the secret passage. This is an inside joke as the director of the movie, Alfonso Cuarón, is Mexican. Alfonso Cuarón Orozco (b 28 November 1961 is an Academy Award -nominated Mexican Film director, Screenwriter and Film producer The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America.
The film Once Upon a Time in Mexico, directed by Robert Rodriguez, takes place in the days leading up to the Day of the Dead, culminating in numerous acts of violence on the holiday itself. Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action Film written edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Robert Anthony Rodriguez (born June 20 1968 is an American director, writer, producer, Cinematographer, editor and Musician
The plot, as well as the title, of the first episode of the Adult Swim series The Venture Bros., "Dia de Los Dangerous!", takes place on this day. Adult Swim, (usually stylized swim with its signature square Brackets, is an adult-oriented Television network sharing channel space with Cartoon The Venture Bros (alternatively The Venture Brothers) is an American Animated television series airing as part of Adult Swim " Dia de Los Dangerous! " is the first episode in the first season of The Venture Bros. The series' titular characters, Hank and Dean Venture, purchase sombreros and traditional sugar skulls (not on screen; their first scene has Hank describing their events to their father, who has just given a lecture to a very small audience, due in part to the holiday). Henry Alan "Hank" Venture is one of the two titular Venture Brothers and a main character on the Adult Swim program of the same name, parodying boy Dean Venture is one of the two titular Venture Brothers and a main character on the Adult Swim program of the same name, serving as a parody of such boy "Dr" Thaddeus S "Rusty" Venture is one of the main characters on the Adult Swim show The Venture Bros
An episode of the television science fiction series Babylon 5 is entitled Day of the Dead and features sugar skulls in the culture of an alien species. Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created produced and largely written by J " Day of the Dead " is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
A song "El Dia De Los Muertos" by Zoe Aves from El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera. El Tigre The Adventures of Manny Rivera is an animated series produced for Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network.
A song "Day of the Dead" by Voltaire from Ooky Spooky. Ooky Spooky is an album by the Dark cabaret / Darkwave artist Voltaire.

External links

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