Day of the Dead, or El Día de Los Muertos in Spanish, is not just a national Mexican celebration, but over the years it's become a worldwide festivity. Day of the Dead is celebrated around the same time as Halloween so often people get confused between the two. Most of you may have seen colourfully painted skulls and vibrant skeletons around the shops, but what's this all about? Have a read to find out the difference between Halloween and Mexico's Day of the Dead, with all the fun facts you need to know!
6 FACTS ABOUT DAY OF THE DEAD
1. DAY OF THE DEAD IS DIFFERENT TO HALLOWEEN
Firstly, Halloween is celebrated on 31st October and Day of the Dead is celebrated on 2nd November. Although the name might trick you, Day of the Dead is the celebration of the lives who are no longer. Halloween is celebrated mainly in U.K and USA and came from the Celtic festival of Samhain, where people dress up in 'scary' outfits and revolve the day pretty much around decorating pumpkins and stocking up their sugar dosage on sweets. Whereas Day Of The Dead celebrates the lives of lost ones and the day is spent partying, or having a fiesta as the Spanish say!
2. DAY OF THE DEAD IS A CELEBRATION
As we previously said, Day of the Dead is a celebration, and there is nothing scary about this day (other than the crazy outfits)! Families and relatives gather together to remember the spirits of children who passed away. Often the streets are filled with music and dancing with everyone covered in the colours of the rainbow with wacky decorations filling everyones homes.
3. SWEET TREATS ARE A NECESSITY
What's a celebration without a sweet treat, hey! As with many occasions, food tends to be a centre point. From sweet bread referred to as 'bread of the dead' to sugar sweets in the shape of skulls, you won't be leaving the party hungry - that's for sure!
4. A CELEBRATION FULL OF HUMOUR
Day of the Dead is the perfect time to release all your laughter and giggles as it's full of Mexican humour. From dancing skeletons to quirky and fun artwork. Nothing is boring about this day!
5. IT'S A BIGGER CELEBRATION THAN CHRISTMAS
Yup, you read that right - Day of The Dead is a bigger deal than Christmas day in Mexico. With the celebrations taking place over a few days, Mexicans have their biggest public holiday so they can make the most of this special event.
6. EVERYONE VISITS A CEMETERY
As the day revolves around celebrating the dead, the tradition is to visit a cemetery. Some spend the night there, and others will bring offerings such as candles and flowers to celebrate their lives. Although emotions can fly high, the purpose is to celebrate and think about all the positives that their loved ones brought.
There you have a little taster of the top facts you should know about Day of the Dead in Mexico 2019. A country with a fun and fascinating personality, this just touches on the rich culture that covers the country. If you're interested in Mexico's unique culture, join us on a group tour!