TITLE
Living Dias De Los Muertoes Iin Oaxaca, Mexico
LEAD PARAGRAPH
What do you celebrate on October 31st – ghosts, goblins, and all things scary? In Mexico, and in many other Latin American countries, this is the day to celebrate and honor the lives of loved ones who have passed.
Dias de los Muertoes (Days of the Dead) is a two to three-day annual festival honoring the spirits of loved ones who have passed on. Although Dias de los Muertoes ceremonies are steeped in ritual and history, not all villages celebrate the festival on the same day. I spent a week in the Oaxaca, Mexico region to participate in the annual celebrations of the area.
PARAGRAPHS
A little history
Dias de los Muertos are two or more days of celebrations honoring the dead. While celebrated in most Latin American countries, Dias de los Muertoes is most strongly associated with Mexico, especially the cities of Patzcuaro and Oaxaca where the traditions originated and continue to be big events today.
The celebrations combine indigenous Aztec rituals with Catholicism, the predominant religion in Mexico introduced by the Spanish conquerors.
Early settlers were taught the dead would be insulted by the mourning or sadness of their remaining family members. Dia de los Muertos, therefore, celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and music the …show more content…
A still-standing ancient arch of the old cemetery chapel reminds me of being in an archeological site. The chapel’s adobe walls are crumbling and supported with wood timbers. The chapel was built in the 17th century, but its foundation dates to the early 1500’s. What remains is a shell, open to the sky, while within the walls are several centuries old gravesites. Cemetario Viejo is densely packed with grave sites; there is sometimes no path between the graves. On this night is is ablaze with candles and copal incense as families hold a vigil for the elder spirits to
Living Dias De Los Muertoes Iin Oaxaca, Mexico
LEAD PARAGRAPH
What do you celebrate on October 31st – ghosts, goblins, and all things scary? In Mexico, and in many other Latin American countries, this is the day to celebrate and honor the lives of loved ones who have passed.
Dias de los Muertoes (Days of the Dead) is a two to three-day annual festival honoring the spirits of loved ones who have passed on. Although Dias de los Muertoes ceremonies are steeped in ritual and history, not all villages celebrate the festival on the same day. I spent a week in the Oaxaca, Mexico region to participate in the annual celebrations of the area.
PARAGRAPHS
A little history
Dias de los Muertos are two or more days of celebrations honoring the dead. While celebrated in most Latin American countries, Dias de los Muertoes is most strongly associated with Mexico, especially the cities of Patzcuaro and Oaxaca where the traditions originated and continue to be big events today.
The celebrations combine indigenous Aztec rituals with Catholicism, the predominant religion in Mexico introduced by the Spanish conquerors.
Early settlers were taught the dead would be insulted by the mourning or sadness of their remaining family members. Dia de los Muertos, therefore, celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and music the …show more content…
A still-standing ancient arch of the old cemetery chapel reminds me of being in an archeological site. The chapel’s adobe walls are crumbling and supported with wood timbers. The chapel was built in the 17th century, but its foundation dates to the early 1500’s. What remains is a shell, open to the sky, while within the walls are several centuries old gravesites. Cemetario Viejo is densely packed with grave sites; there is sometimes no path between the graves. On this night is is ablaze with candles and copal incense as families hold a vigil for the elder spirits to