There are countries in which death is treated with humor. Mexico is probably the brightest of them. Historically, death is viewed here from a slightly different angle than in typical Europe, for example. For Mexicans, death is not the end, but the beginning. Therefore, the deceased are not commemorated or mourned here. Once a year they are greeted with joy on their faces. On this day, everything turns upside down: the day changes with the night, the city is filled with people dressed in the costumes of the dead, and the cemetery becomes the most visited place. This is how the feast of the dead is celebrated in Mexico. What is the name of this action? You may have heard this phrase before: Dia de los Muertos. And now let's take a closer look at this reckless event and try to figure out what its philosophy is.

Story

The Feast of the Dead in Mexico has its roots in Aztec and Mayan times. In their belief system, death took on the form of a certain ritual, as did resurrection. Even before the Spaniards conquered Mexico, the skulls of their deceased relatives were kept in the houses of the Aztecs, which were actively used in Aztec ceremonies.

In the summer, the Aztecs allocated a whole month, during which a series of sacrifices was arranged. Thus, they paid tribute to the dead and the afterlife in general with its mistress - the goddess Mictlancihuatl.

The early conquerors of Mexico noticed that the Aztecs mocked death in their rites. These rituals were recognized as blasphemous, and sanctions began to be imposed against those who practice them. The indigenous population of Central America was forced to convert to Catholicism, but the ancient traditions remained unchanged. The government managed to reduce the period of sacrifices and rampant ritual action to a few days. However, it could not replace the joy of people with sorrow, and the skull, which is the main attribute of the Feast of the Dead, with the cross. What became the basis for such an event as the feast of the dead in Mexico: myth or reality, it is difficult to say. One thing is for sure - this day unites millions of people.

When is the holiday?

They tried to adjust the ancient pagan holiday to the maximum to fit the Christian canon. It used to be celebrated on the 9th month of the Aztec calendar, but was later moved to November 1-2. On this day, Catholics celebrate the Day of the Dead and sometimes the feast of the dead in Mexico begins to be celebrated on October 31st. Since this action has the status of a national holiday, state enterprises and schools do not work on these days. The holiday is conditionally divided into the Day of the Little Angels (November 1) and the Day of the Dead itself (November 2). On the first day, the dead babies and children are honored, and on the second - adults.

Traditions

According to Mexican beliefs, the dead do not go away forever, but continue to live in the underworld, which is called Mictlan. Therefore, death for them is the same holiday as birth. In fact, she is the birth, but in a different guise. Mexicans believe that once a year the dead come to their homes to visit relatives, do their favorite things and feel the beauty of life.

Preparations for the Day of the Dead begin months in advance. In educational institutions and all kinds of communities, costumes, masks and life-size puppets are made. Musicians prepare for performances, altars are transformed, and flower companies receive large orders.

Altar and offerings

An altar made of yellow marigolds is considered a symbolic door between the world of the living and the dead. Altars are installed everywhere so that the souls of the dead can go home through them. In recent years, they can be found even in schools, shops, restaurants, hospitals, on the main streets and other crowded places. Marigold in this regard is often called the flower of the dead.

Various gifts are placed at the altar: candles, toys, fruits, tamales (a national dish made from cornmeal) and so on. Water is considered essential attributes (the dead are thirsty after long journeys) and sweet "bread of the dead".

For the holiday, women prepare the favorite dishes of the deceased relative and make the bed so that he can rest. Family and friends come together to welcome the deceased with joy.

Skulls and skeletons

When the Feast of the Dead approaches, everything in Mexico is filled with its symbols - skulls, skeletons and coffins. On any counter you can find these attributes in the form of chocolates, figurines, key rings and other tinsel. In shop windows they are often stacked in the form of pyramids, tsompatli. Tsompatl - a wall of skulls of defeated enemies, symbolizing the inextricable link between the living and the dead.

Skulls and skeletons can be seen literally everywhere on this holiday: on doors, walls, asphalt, clothes and even skin. If you are presented with a coffin with your name on the Day of the Dead, do not be offended - you are sincerely wished all the best. Such gifts are given to people close and dear to the soul.

"Calavera Katrina"

Another interesting symbol that the national holiday of the dead in Mexico boasts. It is a skeleton dressed in rich women's outfits with a wide-brimmed hat. The phrase "Calavera Katrina" literally translates as "Katrina's Skull". Often this symbol is called the "skull of a fashionista." Many locals believe that this is what the goddess of the dead looks like. But in reality, this symbol became known from the engraving of La Calavera de la Catrina in 1913, which was completed by the artist José Guadalupe Posad. In this way, he wanted to illustrate that even the richest and most successful will one day become victims of death. One way or another, over time, the image of Katrina firmly entrenched in the status of one of the main symbols of such an event as the feast of the dead in Mexico. Makeup for women on this day often symbolizes the same Katrina.

Hike to the cemetery

On this holiday, it is almost impossible to find a free space in the parking lots near the cemetery. Entire families come here to look after the graves of relatives, cover them with bouquets of marigolds, decorate them with candles, and bring the deceased's favorite dishes and drinks. Picnics and dances to national music are also organized here.

An evening trip to the cemetery for Mexicans is not a sad event, but a real holiday. They meet their relatives here, have fun and just have a good time. Around each grave there is an idyll: men talk sincerely, women set the table, elders tell the younger ones funny stories from life, children play, and no one is afraid of the day when death overtakes him.

Parade of the Dead

Sincere night gatherings in the cemetery are more common in small towns. In megacities, real carnivals are more often arranged. The Feast of the Dead in Mexico, whose photographs amaze with the level of organization, is held on a grand scale. The city, empty during the day, with the advent of night is filled with orchestras. Classical and folk musical instruments create a colorful atmosphere that locals believe will raise the dead from the grave. At least she inspires the living to dance until morning.

Huge groups of people form behind wandering orchestras. Most of them dress up in colorful outfits and paraphernalia, which is famous for the feast of the dead in Mexico. The masks that can be found on people on this day mostly represent death. But all of them, as well as souvenir skulls, are endowed with a wide sincere smile. The procession has no clear direction and schedule. Anyone can join him. Carnival captivates the whole city, but with the advent of dawn on November 3, it fades for a whole year.

Regional differences

Just imagine: today, in some cities, the Day of the Dead dwarfs Christmas in its scope. However, in each of the cities the holiday is celebrated in its own way and on a different scale. For example, in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, the carnival procession is considered the main event of the day. Meanwhile, in the Valley of Mexico, most of the resources are spent on decorating houses and altars.

In the city of Pomuch, traditions of pre-Columbian times are observed. Here, the bodies of deceased relatives are annually exhumed and cleansed of their flesh. In the Tlahuac region, ancient rural traditions are honored and lavish festivities are held in cemeteries. In Ocotepeque, sacrifices are carried out in huge numbers. And the roads from the houses where people have died over the past year to the cemetery are strewn with flower petals.

Similarity to Halloween

The main holiday in Mexico, the Day of the Dead, takes place around the same time as Halloween, and has a number of similarities with it. Both holidays originated in the days of early cultures and at one time, one way or another, mixed with the Christian faith. The Day of the Dead, like Halloween, is based on the belief that the dead return to our world. The paraphernalia of the holidays, wholly reminiscent of death, also has common features.

However, there is a significant difference between the two events. Halloween symbolizes the fear of death. It is replete with characters with a negative reputation: witches, vampires, demons, zombies, and so on. Halloween masks are worn so that evil creatures take people for their own and do not harm them. On the Day of the Dead, the opposite is true - the dead are welcomed, and death is perceived as the birth of something new, bright and great.

The Day of the Dead is so popular all over the world that even in the countries of the former CIS they make tattoos with its attributes. Most often, the same Calavera Katrina is depicted on the body, which many consider the incarnation of Mictlancihuatl.

Conclusion

Today we got acquainted with such an unusual holiday as the Mexican Day of the Dead. Definitely, the Mexican philosophy regarding death deserves attention and at least makes one think that perhaps our fear of death is greatly exaggerated. And the deceased, perhaps, would be much more pleasant to see smiles on the faces of their relatives, and not grief.

Mexican holiday "Day of the Dead"- one of the most shocking, and at the same time, exciting and original holidays in the world. "Dia de los Muertos", as it is literally called in Mexico, is the time when thousands of the dead come to life and take to the streets of cities, celebrating and having fun, along with the living. At this time, in Mexico, everything seems to be turned upside down: the night turns into day, the cemetery becomes the most popular vacation spot in the city, the living put on the guise of the dead, the dead come to life. We will tell about this authentic Mexican holiday dedicated to the dead in our article.

It should be noted right away that in Mexico a completely different attitude towards death is practiced than in our country and in Europe. Death for the Mexicans is not the end of everything, but only a continuation of life, but already in a different, better world. Therefore, it is customary here not to commemorate the dead, as we do, but to meet with joy and fun. After all, the Mexican "Day of the Dead" is really a holiday, because, only at this time, beloved dead relatives have the opportunity to visit their loved ones left in this world.

The history of this holiday goes back to the time of the pagan beliefs of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, and is associated with the traditions of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, who practiced various rituals of death and resurrection of the dead. Before the Spanish conquered Mexico, it was customary for the Aztecs to keep the skulls of their relatives in their homes and use them in all sorts of ceremonies. During one summer month, they arranged bloody sacrifices in order to pay tribute to their dead ancestors, the entire afterlife and the patroness of that world, the goddess Mictlancihuatl. The first conquerors of Mexico, when they saw such rites, were shocked, because while conducting them, the Aztecs seemed to laugh at death, Indian rituals were a real blasphemy in the eyes of enlightened Europeans. The Spaniards began an urgent conversion of the indigenous population of Central America to the Catholic faith, although it was very difficult to eradicate the traditions that had taken root here for centuries. They managed to cancel the bloody sacrifices, as well as reduce this holiday to a couple of days a year. However, the replacement of joy with sorrow and the skull - the main symbol of the Mexican holiday "Dia de los Muertos" - with the cross - failed.

Until now, for tourists who have come to this holiday for the first time, it seems very extravagant, and this is probably a mild definition of feelings about this. Traditionally, the Day of the Dead holiday is celebrated on the first and second of November. Moreover, the celebration goes on throughout Mexico. The Mexicans claim that in those days the afterlife comes to life, and souls are waiting in their earthly dwellings, decorating them with photographs of deceased relatives and friends, preparing their favorite sweets, symbols of the holiday are placed everywhere - bright skulls. Another symbol of the "Day of the Dead" is "Katrina" - a female skeleton dressed in a bright dress and a wide hat. He personifies the Aztec goddess of death, Mictlancihuatl.

What is most interesting is that now only the name of the holiday remains sinister, but he himself evokes only positive emotions. Thousands of people dressed up and made up as dead people walk along the streets, fairs are open everywhere selling holiday attributes on this topic: skeleton figurines, ceramic skulls, candles, various sweets in the form of coffins, skeletons, skulls. On all major squares, the main streets of cities, huge skulls are installed, as well as bright installations are being built on the theme of the afterlife. It is very interesting these days to be on the main square of the capital of Mexico - the city of Mexico City, which is called Sokkalo Square or Constitution Square. On this square, which occupies two hundred and forty square meters, and which is the symbol of the city, there are ancient buildings left over from the time of the ancient capital of the Aztecs - Tenochtitlan, as well as incredibly beautiful colonial-style buildings built by Europeans. Not far from the square is a pyramid, on its top a century ago there was a Temple of the Sun God and the God of Rain. And it is on this square, on the Day of the Dead, that the traditions of the Mexicans emerge very clearly. But it is worth saying that in different parts of Mexico, during the celebration of the "Day of the Dead", there are some differences: if in the Valley of Mexico, the main attention is paid to decorating the altars and houses of the deceased people, then in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, the holiday "Dia de los Muertos" is on a grand scale: a real carnival starts here and the city is filled with "dancing skeletons" who have fun to the music of brass bands and mariachi songs. The deserted streets during the day, closer to the night, are filled with crowds of dancers, orchestras, followed by mummers and onlookers-tourists. Such processions arise completely spontaneously, without a route or schedule. Any person from the outside has the opportunity to join this raging crowd and roam the streets of the city after it. The carnival mood covers everyone and everyone, and it lasts until the first rays of the sun on the third of November. But in the Mexican town of Pomuch, the traditions of the Indians that existed even before the entry of Europeans to this mainland are still honored: on the “Day of the Dead”, the remains of loved ones are removed from the earth, they are cleaned of rotten flesh or carefully polished, bones already cleaned in previous years. Therefore, for faint-hearted tourists, we do not recommend going to that city and walking to the cemetery in those days. That is, as you already understood, in the traditions of celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico, there are some regional differences. But everywhere, the festive scope of these days in Mexico, overshadows the celebration of Christmas. Sometimes, Mexicans are so eager for the onset of the "Day of the Dead" that they begin to celebrate it, even a little earlier - from the thirty-first of October. "Dia de los Muertos" is an official national holiday in Mexico, the days of which are days off, neither schools nor businesses work during this period.

Holidays can be divided according to the semantic load. On the first of November in Mexico they celebrate the "Day of little angels" - "Día de Angelitos", it is dedicated to honoring the memory of deceased children or babies. November 2nd, begins "Día de los Muertos" - honoring the adult dead. But this is preceded by many months of preparation, when the production of masks, costumes, life-size puppets begins in schools, institutes, and other communities, daily rehearsals of musicians take place, designs of solemn altars are created. Immediately before the holiday, these altars are created, which are decorated with flowers - yellow marigolds. It is believed that in this way it is possible to create a symbolic door between the worlds through which souls can return home. No wonder marigolds are called the "flower of the dead" - "flor del muerto". Such an altar should be in every Mexican home, and they are also created in squares, local schools, shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, airports. Not only flowers, but also other offerings are placed at the altars: candles, tamales - a Mexican dish made from cornmeal, fruits, toys - for small dead children, alcohol - for dead adults. Water is a mandatory attribute of every altar on the Day of the Dead, because the Mexicans believe that spirits suffer from thirst after traveling between worlds and from hunger, which can only be satisfied by a special sweet bread - "pan de muertos", literally "bread for the dead". ". Mexican women cook dishes that the dead loved very much during their lifetime, in each house they specially make a bed on which the dead who came could rest. It is customary for relatives and friends to gather in houses to joyfully meet the deceased.

On the days before the holiday, on all the shelves of shops, shops sell symbols of the holiday - coffins, skulls, skeletons - they can be made of chocolate, clay, cardboard. In general, skulls and skeletons can be seen everywhere at this time: they are painted on the doors and windows of houses, on asphalt and walls, and these symbols should also be on clothes. But it is desirable that the skulls be painted with bright colors and smile, because the "Day of the Dead" in Mexico is a holiday of joy and fun, not sorrow and longing. Therefore, if these days you are presented with a symbolic skull or coffin, where your name is written, then do not be shocked: they did it with all their hearts, because it is customary in Mexico. Such gifts are made to all relatives and friends, as well as friends. In addition, on shop windows, you can often see pyramids - the Aztec "tzompantli", which the Indians erected from the skulls of defeated enemies. It is a Mexican symbol of the inextricable link between life and death.

During the celebration of the "Day of the Dead", it is customary to visit cemeteries at night, but this, again, is not a sad event, but the real culmination of the holiday and the long-awaited meeting with relatives who have gone to another world, the opportunity to spend time with them, drink and eat in a circle relatives and friends. It is worth warning, if suddenly you also decide to go to the cemetery these days to look at the traditions of the celebration of the Mexicans, that the parking lot will be busy, and the cars of local residents will flood several blocks around. People flock here in a dense stream. They clean the graves, sprinkle them with flower petals, put wreaths and bouquets of yellow marigolds, decorate with candles, bring here the most favorite food, drinks of their deceased, as well as his photographs. Then they arrange picnics and dances on the grave, to the cheerful music of mariachi musicians. For Europeans, this leads to a stupor and seems like blasphemy, but for Mexicans it is an opportunity to create a family idyll at each grave. Everything here is like at our family holidays: women fuss, laying the table, men communicate and tell interesting stories about the life of the deceased, dressed-up children play and run, and babies calmly doze off in strollers. But it is worth saying that most often, the traditions of sincere gatherings at the cemetery are now supported in small towns and villages, and residents of large cities prefer to arrange fun carnivals.

In any case, for Europeans, getting acquainted with the traditions of celebrating the "Day of the Dead" in Mexico will be a blow to the usual stereotypes and reveal a completely different and opposite point of view on death. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to visit this Mexican holiday, we highly recommend that you do so.

While part of the planet is actively preparing for Halloween, a training parade (“La Catrina”) was held in Mexico in honor of another surprisingly “terrible” and very original holiday, Dia de Los Muertos - the “Day of the Dead”.

We tell you what kind of game it is and why the holiday is interesting. Go.

1. The Day of the Dead is a centuries-old tradition that could not be eradicated.

The history of the holiday goes back to the Mayans and the Aztecs. Their faith was closely connected with the rituals of death and resurrection. Local residents (before the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards) often kept real skulls of the dead in their houses, as symbols of death and resurrection.

Every year, the Aztecs held a real month of sacrifices (modern August), as a sign of respect for the dead, the underworld and its patroness, the goddess Mictlancihuatl.

The Indians believed that death only marks the transition of a person from one state to another. In other words, death for them is only a transformation, after which the life path does not end.

Despite the fact that the indigenous population of Central America was forcibly converted to Catholicism, it was not possible to eradicate a strong tradition. Neither 500 years of Catholic propaganda, nor interbreeding with the religious calendar, nor soft integration into Christian canons helped.

All that the Catholic Church has managed to do is move the holiday to the first day of November, when the church celebrates All Saints' Day. So-so achievement.

The Day of the Dead remained an original pagan holiday, with its own symbols and traditions.

2. Modern integration and Day of the Dead symbol

In modern society, the zinc engraving Calavera Katrina by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada has become a symbol of the Day of the Dead. He depicted a skeletal-faced woman in high society attire and named her "La Calavera de la Catrina", showing that the rich and fashionable are as mortal as anyone else.

Figurines of Katrina have become an integral attribute of the holiday and an excellent Mexican souvenir.

It is believed that this is exactly what the very Mictlancihuatl, in whose honor the Indians made sacrifices, should have looked like.

3. Mexicans have an absolutely friendly relationship with death since childhood.

Modern Mexican children from a young age see images of Katrina, play skeletons, eat playful cakes in the form of coffins and skulls. Game! But in this way, little Mexicans are not afraid of the idea of ​​death, for them it is absolutely normal.

4. Mexicans celebrate the holiday two days in a row

The Day of the Dead is celebrated for two days in a row on November 1 and 2. It is believed that it is on these days that the souls of deceased relatives visit their home. Mexicans on November 1 communicate with the souls of dead children, and the next day - with the souls of adult relatives.

• Nov. 1- Day of the little angels (Día de Angelitos), when the dead children and babies are honored
• November 2- Día de los Muertos - the day when dead adults are commemorated

No mourning and days of mourning. It is believed that this holiday is an excellent occasion to laugh at death and actively enjoy life.

5. Traditions that may shock

On the Day of the Dead, Mexicans prepare altars brightly decorated with flowers in memory of deceased relatives.

Favorite things, food, drinks of a deceased relative, sweets are placed on the pedestals, candles are lit. It is believed that the soul of a deceased relative should remember the taste of earthly dishes. Many put up altars right on the streets, competitions (!) Are held to determine the best pedestal.

Also, altars can be seen in offices, public places on the streets and squares of cities.

Traditional pastry for the holiday - Pan de muerte (Bread of the Dead) - a loaf sprinkled with sugar, on top of which a bread ball symbolizing a skull is baked. A sort of Mexican "cake for the dead."

The culmination of the holiday is a visit to the cemetery. Mexicans arrange there noisy parties with songs and dances. There are also long conversations with deceased relatives and funny facts from the life of the deceased are recalled.

6. Cities of the dead. Not scary

On the days of the holiday, its symbols (skulls and skeletons) are drawn almost everywhere. Most often they are smiling and made in bright festive colors.

On the eve of the holiday in shops in the form of sweets and desserts, you can find various variations of skeletons, skulls and coffins.

In addition, a lot of themed decorations, souvenirs and other attributes of the holiday are sold.

Spectacular street processions, noisy carnivals, impromptu exhibitions and fairs are organized in large cities, and cemetery picnics are organized in small ones.

7. Hollywood and Day of the Dead

"Dead" carnivals have been played up in Hollywood films more than once. One of the most famous is the opening scene in the latest James Bond film Spectre. Exotic entourage and spectacular staging.

In November, a new colorful cartoon by Pixar studio "Coco" will be released on the big screens, in which such an unusual holiday is played up.

"Day of the Dead" is an integral part of the life of every Mexican*.

The Mexican poet Octavio Paz once said: “The Mexican, instead of being afraid of death, seeks her company, teases her, flirts with her. This is his favorite toy and enduring love.” Everyone goes crazy in their own way.

*The holiday is popular in many Latin American countries: Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador.

By the way, in 2003, the holiday "Day of the Dead" was included by UNESCO in the list of intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

This is not a pop Halloween.

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One of my favorite skull designs has always been the Calavera style. Damn, this is really cool! If someone is frightened by the usual gloomy skulls, then the cheerful painted calaveras cannot but arouse sympathy. Today, skulls painted in this style are a fashion trend. They can be seen on clothes or tattoos, it is fashionable to arrange photo shoots with the appropriate makeup. Actually, I welcome all these manifestations. And if one of the lovely ladies, drawing a calavera on their face, suddenly thinks about what it means at all, then this article will come in handy for them. And it all started in distant Mexico ...

The day of the Dead

Translated from Spanish, calavera means, oddly enough, "skull". In Mexico, it is a symbol of the Day of the Dead, which is treated with great honor there. Day of the Dead appeared as a result of the fusion of two cultures - Spanish and Indian. The conquistadors, who came in large numbers from the Old World, tried in every possible way to eradicate the culture of the Mayans and the Aztecs and instill their traditions in them.

Among the imposed Catholic holidays were All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which fell on November 1 and 2. During the celebration, among other things, it was supposed to make donations and offerings to church altars. In theory, this was supposed to help the souls of the dead to shorten the period of sad pastime in purgatory and quickly go to heaven.

However, the burnt pagan Indians took everything in their own way. Before the conquest by the Europeans, they naturally had their own rituals associated with the bony. They had two holidays, the names of which are better not to try to pronounce - Mikailuitontli and Sokotuetztli. During the first, dead children were honored, and during the second, adults were honored.

The result of this mixing was two holidays that are still celebrated in Mexico, the Day of the Angels (Dia de los Angelitos) and the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). They are celebrated on November 1 and 2 and are also divided according to age. Instead of donations to the church, the Indians began to bring gifts to the dead themselves.

Since death, in the view of the Mexican Indians, was considered a bright beginning, it is customary to make noise and have fun on the Day of the Dead. It is believed that on the night of November 1-2, the souls of the dead return to visit their loved ones. Therefore, Mexicans often gather in families or communities and spend time in cemeteries.

By tradition, fairs and festive processions are organized at this time, the obligatory attribute of which is Calavera Katrina - a skeleton in women's clothes, decorated with flowers and paints. Many believe that she became the incarnation of the goddess of death, Mictlancihuatl (I'm not even trying to write this name, I'm just copying it), in honor of which the ancient Indians made more than one thousand human sacrifices.

Another theory refers to the Mexican illustrator José Posada, who lived in the late 19th and early 20th century. Posada became the founder of a series of cartoons in which all sections of the then Mexican society were depicted as skeletons. The main idea of ​​​​Posad was that regardless of your position, role in society and level of prosperity, the same end awaits all of us, and in the face of death we are all equal.

One of his most famous works is the engraving "Katrina". It depicts a female skeleton in a fashionable hat decorated with flowers, which could only be afforded by representatives of the wealthy classes. The word "Katrina" in Spanish means "dandy". Allegedly, this engraving is the prototype of this Katrina Calavera.

I do not know which theory is correct, but the second one impresses me more. Decorating your appearance with the symbols of Calavera, be simpler, more humane or something, do not upset Leonid Arkadyevich. No matter how dressed up and puffed up you are, no matter how important you feel, this will not make you special in the eyes of a bony one. And in this I fully support the views of Jose, his mother, Posada.

Mexicans firmly believe that people dear to their hearts after death do not leave this world forever. Once a year - on the Day of the Dead - they can visit relatives.

Although the traditions of honoring deceased relatives in Mexico date back to ancient times, today Dia de los Muertos is tied to two Catholic celebrations - All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). These days, Mexicans visit the graves of their relatives, where they build "altars of death" with the favorite things of the deceased. Altars are decorated with bouquets of orange marigolds, offerings of fruits, drinks and food. An indispensable attribute of the holiday is also placed here - a skull-calavera brightly painted with glaze made of sugar or marzipan.

Like their American neighbors, Mexicans treat the world of the dead with a peculiar sense of humor. On the Day of the Dead, it is customary not to mourn, but, on the contrary, to amuse otherworldly guests in every possible way so that they bestow their blessing on the living. Therefore, closer to sunset, Dia de los Muertos turns from a quiet family celebration into a noisy street comparsu procession with the participation of traveling tambora orchestras, songs and dances.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico, but it is celebrated especially brightly in the south of the country in the ancient city of Oaxaca de Juarez. About a week before the start of the holiday, a large parade in honor of the Day of the Dead passes through the central streets of the Mexican capital Mexico City. Participants in the carnival procession make up like skeletons and dress up as characters from the other world, as the Americans do during. This tradition appeared relatively recently, after the demonstration of a similar action in the film "007: Spectrum" from the saga about the adventures of the legendary agent James Bond.