Early November is a perfect time to visit Mexico. Dia de los Muertos ( Day of the Dead) takes place on November 1st and 2nd, and is a fine example of a traditional event that has blended with Christian beliefs. It’s no coincidence that the Day of the Dead falls so close to All Saints Day. Indeed, Dia de los Muertos was originally celebrated during the entire month of August, but when the Spanish Christians came to Mexico they moved the celebration to coincide with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of the lives of our loved ones, but this is not a mournful occasion - quite the opposite. Dia de los Muertos honors the deceased, their lives, the things they loved, and the way we remember them.
Puerto Vallarta is a marvel during late Octber and early November. As you explore town during this time, look for altars displayed in store windows, along the walkway of the Rio Cuale and in front of the Presidencia building. Each altar is lovingly designed to showcase the life of the deceased. Their passions and preferences are immortalized with photos, plates of their favorite food, samples of their favorite drink, or other cherished items.
Also integral to the Dia de los Muertos celebrations is the cempasuchitl (marigold), which decorates the altars. Mexican marigolds are robust - about three times the size of North American marigolds - and brightly-colored, and are used to entice the dead to visit.
Also be sure to check the local shops for a sugar skull with your name on it! The skulls, which are made from molded sugar, have names on them, affixed with paper nameplates or written in icing. Find one with your name, and you can symbolically eat your own death. This playful attitude towards our own mortality is part of the legacy of the pagan aspect of the celebration. Pan de Muertos, a sugary domed bun with a crossbone-shaped detail, is also sold around this time.
Around town, keep your eyes open for decorations representing the four elements: brightly colored papers called papel picado for wind; corn and other foods for earth; plates of water are left out as offerings to the thirsty soul; and candles (fire) for forgotten and remembered souls.
Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations are sure to ignite a new way of thinking about the people we’ve lost, and about our own lives.
Images of lats year's Altars in Puerto Vallarta by Katy Montes de Oca
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