"Day of the Dead" ("Dia de los Muertos") in Mexico is considered one of the most exotic and impressive holidays on earth. During the two days of celebration, the world "becomes" upside down: no one sleeps at night and everyone, young and old, goes to the cemeteries to be in the image of the deceased.

Death is not the end, but the beginning of a happy life

The attitude towards death among Mexicans is fundamentally different than among Europeans. Here they believe that with the advent of death, life does not end, but continues in another world full of happiness. Therefore, even the commemoration of the dead is colored for people with fun: it is believed that it is on the "Day of the Dead" that the closest relatives are able to visit their families, remembering them in this world.

About the Mexican Day of the Dead - the history of the holiday

The origins of this holiday lie in the religion of the original inhabitants of Mexico - the Aztecs, Toltecs, Mayans and other peoples. Before the arrival of Europeans on the continent, the practices of turning to the afterlife and resurrecting the dead were common here. The cult of ancestors, for example, was embodied in the fact that the skulls of deceased family members were kept in houses, ritual drinks were drunk from them on special dates. In the summer, for a period of about 30 days, a series of bloody sacrifices began, thanks to which the existence of our world should have continued. The goddess Mictlancihuatl was considered the patroness of the dead in the other world.

Symbiosis of Catholicism and pagan rites

As soon as they came across these rites, the Spanish colonialists were amazed: in the eyes of true Christians, these pagans in their savagery did not even know how blasphemous they were! As the lands were conquered and a new order was established on them, the spread of Catholicism began, but the new religion was not able to displace the previous one in the bud: instead, an unusual symbiosis was initiated. Yes, sacrifices were eliminated, and the duration of the celebrations was reduced to only a couple of days - however, Christian grief for the deceased did not take the place of joy, just as the cross did not replace bright ceremonial skulls.

When is Day of the Dead celebrated in Mexico?

Traditionally, Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. The celebration covers the whole country from young to old. It is believed that these days the other world opens its doors so that the dead can meet with the living who are waiting for them. That is why delicious dishes are prepared for deceased loved ones, their photos are posted, and their homes are decorated with bright skulls - conductors of the spirits of ancestors. An inseparable part of the holiday is the image of "Katrina": the skeleton of a woman, who is dressed in a colorful dress and a wide-brimmed headdress. In it, in a transformed form, the goddess of death, Mictlancihuatl, has survived to this day.

Celebrate bigger than Christmas

Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead on a much larger scale than Christmas. In some parts of Mexico, the holiday is so eagerly awaited that its beginning is postponed to October 31st.

Official holiday - no one works

But it is November 1 and 2 that are the dates of the national celebration at the official level: they are declared days off, state institutions do not work.

These two days have different meanings:

November 1 - "Day of the little angels" ("Día de Angelitos"), it is devoted to the bright remembrance of the deceased newborns and children in general.

Smiling skull - symbol of the day of the dead in Mexico

The skull is the national symbol of the holiday of remembrance of the ancestors. He is depicted everywhere: on the surfaces of walls, doors and windows, on asphalt, on clothing. There is only one rule: the skull is painted with bright colors, and he smiles. This is how they express the joy that the deceased ancestors bring to our world.

Skull souvenir

Tourists and guests are often given gifts these days: a shard or coffin, where the name of the recipient is written. It should be taken as a gift from a pure soul, because they are also given to real friends, as well as relatives. Another unusual image is the pyramids of skulls, which the Aztecs called "tzompantli": once they were built from the heads of the vanquished, but now they are part of the holiday and do not symbolize the threat.

The main outfits of the holiday: skeleton and skull mask

People on the streets dress up as skeletons or paint a skull mask on their faces. Fairgrounds are open around the clock, where they sell mini-skeletons, ceramic skulls, candle-skulls, sweets in the form of coffins and other souvenirs. Enormous skulls are set up on city streets.

How is the Day of the Dead celebrated in different cities of Mexico?

Over the past centuries, several different traditions of this holiday have developed in different parts of Mexico. For example, in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, the event reaches the scale of a carnival comparable to that in Brazil. During the daytime, the streets are empty, while by nightfall, mariachi guitarists and wind instruments serve as an accompaniment to the "dancing skeletons". People in costumes of otherworldly creatures and tourists mix in the carnival crowd: processions are organized without any plan, here and there. Anyone can join this motley mess and wander until dawn on November 3rd.

A more exotic format, even by the standards of the Mexicans, the holiday acquired in the city of Pomuch. The locals succumbed to the influence of Catholicism much less, so they are closer to the authentic traditions of the Aztecs. When the "Day of the Dead" arrives, they dig up what's left of deceased loved ones, peel away a layer of flesh from bones, or polish bones that have been carved in years past. For this reason, especially sensitive guests from other countries are not advised to visit local cemeteries on the eve of the holiday.

Long preparation for the celebration of the day of the dead

Long before the start of the holiday, schoolchildren, students and just volunteers begin preparations: they make costumes of skeletons, masks, dolls in human height; the musicians are rehearsing and the artists are planning how to decorate the altars.

The very decoration of the altars begins before the holiday, because fresh flowers are required: the familiar yellow-orange marigolds. In Mexico, they are called the "flower of the dead" - they help open the passage between the worlds through which the dead will pass back to our world. Altars of this type are installed in all houses, supermarkets, cafes, public places, etc. On the eve of the holiday, in addition to flowers, they place different fruits, burning candles, tamales (special Mexican food), toys (in memory of children), alcohol (in memory of adults). The necessary component is water: Mexican belief says that the transition to our world takes away a lot of strength from souls, which they can restore only with plain water and a special sweet "bread for the dead."

In the dwellings, food is prepared, loved by the deceased during their lifetime, and the bed is also made: it is believed that the arrived spirit will rest on it. Families and loved ones gather in their homes with a joyful mood and expectation of a meeting.

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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.

The second time we were lucky enough to be in Mexico at the time of the year when the Day of the Dead is celebrated - November 1-2. But even for the second time, I looked forward to this day to walk around the flower-decorated city and take pictures of altars and painted faces. But this time I wanted to understand what this holiday is about and why it is celebrated in this way.

9 Interesting Facts About the Day of the Dead in Mexico

1. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday born from a mixture of Spanish Catholic and Mesoamerican traditions. It is believed that once a year the spirits of the dead return to earth to visit the living. And instead of tears and crying, here they prefer to meet the spirits with joyful smiles. Here they believe that birth and death are integral parts of life, so the celebration of the Day of the Dead is in some way a celebration of life. There are no scary costumes on the Day of the Dead, but decorations are always bright and cheerful.

   

   Altars are made from flowers and various seeds (beans, corn, rice)

2. The Day of the Dead lasts for 3 whole days, and sometimes even longer! It all starts on October 31st, when altars are built and offerings are made, children dress up in costumes and even sometimes receive sweets (although this is a recent innovation and more likely to come from American Halloween). November 1 is celebrated in Catholicism as All Saints Day, and in Mexico on this day the souls of children who have passed away are commemorated. And the official Day of the Dead, November 2, is dedicated to adults who died this year.

   

   The boys carry a cardboard coffin :)

   

   Bright altars in the square

3. Day of the Dead in Mexico is a very serious holiday. It's not Halloween with costumes and candy (which I personally have nothing against). And even if this holiday seems like a fun party, it is still a day that Mexicans treat with great respect. These days, families gather together, remembering deceased relatives, and one day (November 3 this year) no one goes to work.

   

   Hundreds of candles are lit in the evening!

   

   As darkness falls, the festivities are just beginning

4. One of the symbols of the Day of the Dead - Katrina (a skeleton in a European dress and hat) - was originally a caricature of the native Mexican Indians who tried to Europeanize, but gradually fell in love with everyone and became the main female symbol and costume for the Day of the Dead.

   

   Photo from www.queconque.com.mx

   

   Now Katrina is the only costume for girls and women on the Day of the Dead

5. But the skulls on the Day of the Dead came from the Aztecs and Mayans, who also celebrated this holiday, and one of its symbols were skulls, personifying death and rebirth.

   

   Skulls are on every altar

   

   And some even have skeletons :)

6. What about "sugar skull"? For some, this is an intricate print on a T-shirt, for another, a painted face for Halloween. But it turns out that all these patterns come from a long tradition of decorating and painting sugar skulls, which are actually made from sugar cane! So multi-colored skulls are completely edible (albeit not for everyone)!

   

   Photo from www.escapehere.com

   

   Bright altar in the city center

   

   A makeshift cemetery in front of the main cathedral of San Miguel

   

   Each altar is unique and handmade.

7. The traditional delicacy for this holiday is Pan de los muertos (bread of the dead) - a bun of a certain shape.

   

   Photo from www.negocilibre.com

   

   Children love to look at bright decorations.

8. Well, the traditional orange daisies are the unshakable symbolism of the Day of the Dead. It seems that out of nowhere the whole city is suddenly orange! And this color suits San Miguel especially, because the city is built in shades that blend perfectly with daisies - yellow, orange, burgundy, brown.

   

   Daisies on the main square of the city

   

   Elderly American women dressed as Katrina

   

   Fresh flowers are used for decoration.

   

   Finishing touches

   

   All the altars are very beautiful, it's good that you don't have to choose the best one

   This is how the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico. In each city, celebrations may differ, but what’s there - even in the same city, something new appears every year, so you won’t get bored. Here we are in the same San Miguel, and everything was a little different. There were many more events this year - the Catherine parade, a tour of the cemetery, workshops for children, special dinners at restaurants and pool parties.

To me, ghouls! To me,
ghouls!

K / f "Viy"

If my grandmother somehow miraculously ended up in Mexico in early November, she would constantly be baptized, thinking that she was visiting the Devil.

On November 1 and 2, Mexico celebrates one of the most grandiose and colorful holidays - Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). As it turned out, it is in Oaxaca and its environs that it takes place on a special scale. Thousands of tourists come here to watch the triumph of dead souls and their living relatives. Well, for us, living in Oaxaca, it was a sin not to plunge into the atmosphere of the holiday with our heads.

Mexicans have a very special relationship with death. Not only are they not afraid of her, but they often make fun of this inevitable event. Skulls, skeletons are an integral part of their daily life. What is only one colorful worth. Who is this, you ask? Katrina is the cutest skeleton woman in a chic hat. Her image is very popular in Mexico and is found everywhere, even on one of the famous frescoes of Diego Rivera.

The Day of the Dead is the real apotheosis of the relationship between Mexicans, death and all otherworldly forces in general.

This holiday has its roots in the Olmec and Mayan times. It is dedicated to the memory of the dead and is celebrated on a large scale, dragging all the inhabitants into a single whirlpool. No one remains indifferent, no one sits at home. It is believed that these days the souls of deceased relatives visit their home and they are trying to meet them with open arms, love and joy. No one is sad or sad, and, to be honest, Mexicans generally do not like to be sad on any of the days. To make it more fun, they organize parades, costume processions and decorate everything around.

What happens? It turns out that half of this holiday outwardly resembles our Easter and Trinity, half of it is American Halloween. On the one hand, Mexicans, in addition to inviting the dead to their homes, go to cemeteries in droves to honor their dead relatives. There they put things in order, decorate everything with armfuls of bright flowers (some we call marigolds, others - cockerels). Plus they bake Bread of the Dead (Pan de Muerto)- an analogue of our Easter cakes. Well, why not Easter? Unless it's customary to be sad. On the contrary, noisy concerts, theatrical performances, festivities are arranged, in general, everyone has fun from the heart. Even over the graves, relatives recall funny and curious incidents from the life of the departed and laugh heartily.

On the other hand, the Mexicans arrange costumed carnivals, which is very reminiscent of the “pumpkin festival”. The place of pumpkins is occupied by skulls, and the streets are filled with crowds of all kinds of monsters: witches, sorcerers, skeletons, zombies. Everyone dresses up: from small children to elderly men and women.

Enough talk, let's have a look at the holiday. If you remember, it officially lasts two days, in fact, sometimes stretching for a week.

On the first of November, Andryusiks and I went to the city center, towards streets of Alcala. It is there that all the most interesting things happen, also capturing the city center with the square Zocalo and adjacent streets.

Not having time to reach Alcala, they began to notice all sorts of unusual things that had never been seen before. From the depths of the courtyards bright altars looked at us. Similar masterpieces were found next to churches and in the central square. Traditionally, altars are decorated with skulls, flowers, and favorite foods of the departed, in whose honor they are created.

Colorful characters began to appear on the streets. They created these handsome people here, in the middle of the street, with the help of a simple set of paints and a few brushes. If desired, for 200 rubles it was possible to turn into a cute dead man, a ghoul or Katrina's sister.

Children everywhere begged for change from passers-by and especially strenuously and selflessly from tourists.

Some were clearly not up to the holiday.

Our feet led us to the main market Benito Juarez. Here, many sellers and other staff also reincarnated as characters from the other world.

After wandering around the city, Andryusiks and I went to the central cemetery - Pantheon General. At the back of the cemetery, we were greeted by a flower market full of bright colors.

The Pantheon General is the oldest cemetery in all of Oaxaca, with many graves dating from the second half of the nineteenth century. Gorgeous tombstones and crypts make it almost a museum.

Some of the decorations, to be honest, are intimidating))

You can meet a wide variety of visitors to the cemetery: here there are ordinary inhabitants who are not distinguished by anything, and those who have already entered the image. Anyone can visit the monastery of the dead, regardless of appearance or nationality. Tourists visit the pantheon willingly and with great curiosity. Still would! Such characters, but in such an environment!

Shortly before we left the cemetery, candles were being lit everywhere. It is said that the fire of candles helps the souls of the dead find their way to where they are remembered and expected.

The day was steadily approaching evening. It was getting dark fast. Crowds of walking became denser, and the characters even funnier. It seemed that we were at an exhibition of funny freaks trying to outdo each other.

The owners even tried to make their dogs part of the fun. The quadrupeds seemed content, flaunting their sparkling cloaks and throwing off their pointed hats.

Tourists, it should be noted, also did not lag behind, decorating their faces no less, and perhaps even more willingly, than the Mexicans. Exotic, however.

The city was buzzing and spewing loud sounds. Every now and then a stream of walkers was torn apart by groups of musicians, filling everything around with a little awkward, but groovy melodies.

Andryusiks did not have time to press the shutter button, trying to capture interesting characters, in which there was no shortage. We were interested in everything! This is the first time we have seen such action. Except that the parade in honor of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe was remembered, which we once got to Mexico City.

In the center, very close to the Zocalo, we saw something new - sand paintings that covered and blocked the carriageway.

By eight or nine in the evening, the crowd merged into one thing, covering Alcala with an even moving veil. It was possible to move only by adjusting to the general rhythm.

They pulled out of the raging crowd with force and went towards the house, having decided that there were enough impressions for today. We did not have time to come to our street, when we saw another epicenter of the festival a couple of minutes from our house, at churches Iglesia de San Matias Jalatlaco. Here they danced, sang and blew up firecrackers. We were clearly not in danger of falling asleep in silence today. As a result, they fell asleep under the incessant explosions and the sounds of the orchestra.

On November 2, it was decided to continue introducing the Mexican flavor. Apparently, we yearned for him during the trip around the States and the workdays that followed. To this end, we went to a town located near Oaxaca Cuilapam de Guerrero. Our main goal was to visit the former monastery there. I have already mentioned it in my diary, perhaps I will also write a detailed note with technical information, because this monastery turned out to be an unexpectedly interesting and atmospheric place.

After exploring the monastery, we looked at the local cemetery. Don't think we are not maniacs, it's just that the Mexicans' cemeteries on the Day of the Dead are very elegant and bright.

This is where we put an end to our acquaintance with the Mexican Day of the Dead. They were very satisfied, having received a lot of positive emotions and sipping with an excess of local enthusiasm!

Oh yes, I almost forgot! All those who plan to spend the second of November in Oaxaca are also advised to visit Cemetery Panteon San Felipe, which is north of the city. We were too lazy and did not go there, deciding that we had enough of such places. Moreover, this cemetery is located very far from the city center - you have to look for a bus, and even go for fifteen or twenty minutes.

More interesting holidays for you, dear readers!

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.