Dios De Muertos

By Crusader1307

 The Mexican/Latin American Celebration known as Dia de Muertos or Day of The Dead is a pseudo-Christian event which celebrates one s deceased Ancestors. Great pomp and ceremony accompany the celebration which teaches one not to fear Spirits or Ghosts of The Departed, but to celebrate them in The Afterlife . This celebration is accompanied by great feasts, gifts and honoring The Dead with small statues or masks normally in some skeletal form. These images are often brightly painted and are seen wearing new clothes. In addition to the bright colors often many different form of flowers and fauna are portrayed with the images. In practice, The Day of The Dead may be traced back some 3,000 years to Ancient Aztec Ancestor worship, although no documentation strictly links to it s Modern practice. Originally shunned by The Catholic Church as Pagan, the Celebrations were practiced outside of Church sanction.

The days of celebration were designed to coincide with October 31st (All Hallows Eve), All Saint s Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). In Pagan Times, these days were seen as times when The Dead could return to Earth. As such, to appease their deceased Ancestors one a year it was determined that a Family needed to ensure that a Deceased Family Member or Members were kept happy . This was accomplished by maintaining The Grave. Washed, with any weeds pulled often religious symbolism and gifts were placed. If The Deceased smoke or drank a particular alcohol or beverage these items were brought and left at The Grave Site. At some point during the 3-day Period of honoring, The Family would all attend The Grave Site with a great Feast of Food and Drink. A plate of all foods was offered to The Grave Site (just as if The Deceased were present at The Meal ). All done, The Family would be satisfied that The Dead Relative was appeased for yet another year.

Sometime in the 19th Century, the appearance of an etching in Regional Newspapers began to appear around the Time of The Dias de Muertos. The image was that of a Human skull wearing a Ladies Hat, bedecked with flowers and smiling. She was Known as La Calavera Catrina or simply Catrina (sometimes referred to as Lady Death ). She was more closely linked to a political opinion of pre-Mexican Revolutionary People who were obsessed with European fashion and needs. Catrina was adopted by the Common People as a direct representative of The Dias de Muertos. From Catrina was born the fashioning of small statues of human skeletons brightly painted and wearing everyday clothes. They are portrayed in everyday situations, often quite happy and joyous. As the practice grew, soon men and woman would paint their faces into skull motifs and go around their Cities or Towns portraying Catrina . As such was born the use of skeletons to outwardly celebrate The Day.