Feasts, festivities and death

Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos differs from its counterparts Halloween and All Souls’ Day.

Unlike the more sombre All Souls’ Day – a Christian holiday to commemorate the dead –Mexico’s La Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a joyous celebration of death and rebirth. Many people build altars to deceased loved ones, featuring flowers, bright coloured streamers and offerings of food, as well as tending to and decorating the graves. While many of the themes are the same as Halloween – featuring costumes, skulls, bones and sweets – this holiday is a combination of Christian and indigenous (rather than Pagan).

If you’re in Mexico for this holiday, look for special treats such as sugar skulls and pan de muerto (bread of the dead) – but remember the spirits get first choice of the feast.

For more information and photos, see Mary J. Andrade’s website Dave of the Dead in Mexico at www.dayofthedead.com.