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Madison Hogge
SPN 1010
July 26, 2016
Don Mateo
Culture Paper: El Dia De Los Muertos
El Dia De Los Muertos is a popular holiday celebrated throughout parts of Latin
America, but most famously celebrated in Mexico. In English, the phrase means the day of the
dead. However, it does not include Halloween traditions or trick or treating. This is an important
holiday because it influences the Hispanic world by keeping its traditional cultures and beliefs
alive.
Dia de los Muertos came from a Latin American custom that uses indigenous Aztec
rituals and Catholicism. Since it is strongly influenced by the Catholic Church this holiday is
celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, which are All Saints Day and All Souls Day. According to
popular belief, the angelitos (deceased children) return on the evening of October 31 and the
adults on the following night (Pilcher).
This holiday is a celebration of the dead. It is not a day to mourn, or be thought of as
something scary like Halloween. It recognizes that death is a normal part of life and it is to be
celebrated with parties, food, music, dancing, etc. The dead are also a part of the community,
awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones (National
Geographic Society).

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The celebration takes place by cleaning the gravestones and decorating them by placing
flowers, colored paper, and pictures. There is lots of food offered to the dead, but the most
popular is the cinnamon sugar bread. They also offer little presents and drinks. The spirits also
drink their favorite beverages, whether soft drinks, coffee, chocolate, beer, or tequila. Some
people maintain that the level of the liquid decreases overnight, showing that the dead do indeed
return to share in the feast (Pilcher).
The most well-known symbol of this day is the skeletons and skulls known as calaveras
and calacas. They are portrayed through many things like dolls, candy, and parades. This symbol
is known all over the world and is recognized as Dia De Los Muertos. This symbol is used to
emphasize the fact that is a day for the dead and to express how they celebrate the dead. Calacas
and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and
entertaining situations (Piltcher).
Dia De Los Muertos is an important holiday for Latin American countries all over, but
the most strongly important for Mexico because it keeps its early traditions and its rich culture
alive. This day is not only to celebrate, but to remember those who have passed, but to also
recognize they are still apart of the living world. The festival exemplifies the distinctiveness of
the Mexican mentality; rather than a time of trick or treat, it celebrates the intimate connections
between the living and the dead (Piltcher).

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Works Cited
"Dia De Los Muertos." National Geographic Society. N.p., 2012. Web. 07 July 2016.
Pilcher, Jeffrey M., F. ROSALES, "Day of the Dead." Encyclopedia of
Occultism;Parapsychology. 2001, and "Day of the Dead." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Ed..
2016. "Day of The Dead." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 2003. Web. 07 July 2016.