Dia de Los Muertos
Chad Wilson
ANT112
6 Nov. 2012
Dia De Los Muertos
Dia De Los Muertos is a Mexican celebration to honor the dead and past loved ones. This ritual goes back 500 years when the Spanish Conquistadors landed and in Mexico and found them doing this ritual. It’s reported that this ritual has been in practice for over 3,000 years. It is celebrated in Mexico and other countries as well as America. It’s described as a ritual that practices what seems to mock death.
People at these celebrations by dorning skull masks called “calacas” and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. Sugar skulls are made with the name of the deceased loved ones name written on the forehead are used and eaten by a relative or a loved one. Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. These skulls are used to symbolize death and rebirth. The Aztecs and the Meso-Americans believe that their loved ones come back to visit during the month long ritual. Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their loved ones who have died.
This year’s ritual was held downtown and was very visually interesting. There were people dressed with costumes and painted faces. Drums played in the background as they danced down the street. The calacas were all unique and different from one another I imagine representing their loved one or ones. The costumes were from cowboy clothes to Mexican looking wedding dresses. The women wore big flowers in their hair as well almost looked like brides. I found it to be very interesting and educational. I now understand a little better about what colored skulls all over fourth avenue now mean. As far as getting any more information from the event itself I couldn’t find any, I just talked to some of the participants in the march and they really didn’t know much about it either. Unfortunate, but I feel people here in Tucson enjoy anything that happens
ANT112
6 Nov. 2012
Dia De Los Muertos
Dia De Los Muertos is a Mexican celebration to honor the dead and past loved ones. This ritual goes back 500 years when the Spanish Conquistadors landed and in Mexico and found them doing this ritual. It’s reported that this ritual has been in practice for over 3,000 years. It is celebrated in Mexico and other countries as well as America. It’s described as a ritual that practices what seems to mock death.
People at these celebrations by dorning skull masks called “calacas” and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. Sugar skulls are made with the name of the deceased loved ones name written on the forehead are used and eaten by a relative or a loved one. Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. These skulls are used to symbolize death and rebirth. The Aztecs and the Meso-Americans believe that their loved ones come back to visit during the month long ritual. Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their loved ones who have died.
This year’s ritual was held downtown and was very visually interesting. There were people dressed with costumes and painted faces. Drums played in the background as they danced down the street. The calacas were all unique and different from one another I imagine representing their loved one or ones. The costumes were from cowboy clothes to Mexican looking wedding dresses. The women wore big flowers in their hair as well almost looked like brides. I found it to be very interesting and educational. I now understand a little better about what colored skulls all over fourth avenue now mean. As far as getting any more information from the event itself I couldn’t find any, I just talked to some of the participants in the march and they really didn’t know much about it either. Unfortunate, but I feel people here in Tucson enjoy anything that happens