Festival of the Dead - festival of... joy

Traditional Mexicans believe that death is just a stage in the boundless continuum of life, and instead of fearing death, they accept it for granted. That is why the Festival of the Dead has persisted in Mexico for more than 3,000 years - a festival of joy and love.

One thing everyone should know

The Festival of the Dead is not the aloha shirt Mexican version of Halloween. While Halloween is a night of ghosts, the Festival of the Dead is filled with color and joy, an occasion to show love and respect to deceased family members.

When November every year comes again, from the city to the countryside in Mexico, everyone joins the fun with fancy makeup and colorful clothes on. They organize parades and parties, sing and dance, make offerings to their lost loved ones and remember them in many playful, even somewhat sweet, ways. Despite its scary name, this festival is surrounded by a very happy, warm and friendly atmosphere.

The Festival of the Dead was first known more than 500 years ago, when the Spaniards came to Mexico to colonize it, and were surprised to see the natives perform a "spooky" ritual with the weird skull. Initially, the Spaniards used many ways to abolish this custom that has lasted at least 3,000 years, but this festival still exists today and is officially called Día de Los Muertos.

Día de Muertos is a traditional Mexican festival honoring the dead

originating from the Aztecs, Toltects and Nahuas, who saw death as just one stage in the boundless continuum of life. life. The skull couple deceased are still a member of the community, they still live in the memories of those left behind. The Festival of the Dead is the day they temporarily return to earth to visit their loved ones still on earth.

Mexicans believe that the body is temporary

while the soul is eternal. The souls after leaving the body will gather in an eternal place to rest and wait for the day when they can return to visit their relatives. For them, life is just a dream and death is a continuation, so instead of fearing death, people accept it for granted. This is the exact opposite of the Spaniards (and most of us) who see death as the end of life.