Sugar skulls are sometimes accompanied by other traditional Día de los Muertos sweets, such as coffins-shaped candies and the bread of the dead. However, there is nothing scary about these edible skulls, as they are usually decorated with cartoonish expressions. Sugar skulls are supposed to represent the spirits of the departed. It’s also worth noting that in many Latin American Catholic communities, such as the Mexican, candles are offered to the animas (the dead’s souls), to ensure that they can find peace and rest in the afterlife. Candles are also associated with the notions of faith and hope. It’s believed that the warm glow provided by the candles and other votive lights helps the dead to find their way to their altars, especially during the night. Toys are also commonly found on the altars of deceased children. Photographs of the deceased, clothes such as hats or rebozos, pipes, watches, rings, and necklaces are among the personal belongings traditionally placed on the altar during this holiday. Some of the dead’s personal items are also frequently displayed on the altar, as a way to maintain the memory of those who have departed. November second is more associated with the celebration of adults who have passed away. Sweet foods are specially offered during November first, as Mexicans commemorate children who are deceased, referred to as angelitos (or ‘little angels’), on this day. However, more festive beverages, such as tequila, mezcal, and pulque (a traditional Mexican liquor) are also served for this occasion. Regarding drinks, water is always present among the offerings to the dead, as people believe that the spirits become thirsty during their round journey to the land of the living. The latter is a sweet roll, whose top is decorated with two crossed bits of dough, shaped like bones. Some of the traditional foods served during this holiday are tamales, chicken, or meat in mole sauce, sopa azteca, amaranth seeds, atole (corn gruel), apples, bananas, and pan de muerto (‘bread of the dead’). On Día de los Muertos, celebrants also include food and drinks on the altar, so the souls of their loved ones can enjoy, at least once a year, their favorite meals. Another flower that is usually used to this end is the barro de obispo, also known as cockscomb. This is why many people leave a trace of marigold’s petals between the tombs of their loved ones and their houses. Modern-day Mexican tradition has it that the bright orange and yellow colors and the strong scent of this flower can be used to let the dead know which road would take them to their altars. However, the beliefs regarding marigolds have changed over time. The ritualistic uses of the marigold can be traced back to the time of the Aztecs, who believed that the flower had curative powers. In Mexico, marigolds are also called flor de muerto, which means ‘flower of the dead’. 3. Marigoldsįresh flowers are usually used to decorate the altar of the dead, with the cempasúchil flower, or marigolds, being the option preferred among Mexicans. It’s also worth mentioning that in many religious traditions around the world, salt is closely associated with the beginning of life. Moreover, salt is supposed to purify the souls of the dead, so the departed’s spirits can continue with their round journey every year. Salt represents the prolongation of life after death. The whole structure is usually covered with clean tablecloths. Many people also use a table as the base of their altar, to increase its height. Other types of containers can also be used, as long as they provide enough stability. In that location, an array of wooden crates placed one atop another is displayed. To set up the structure of the altar, celebrants choose a space of their house cleared of its traditional furnishings. This multi-level structure is believed to represent the three layers of the creation that exists in Aztec mythology – the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. The structure of the Día de los Muertos altar often has several levels.
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