Dia De Los Meurtos: The Day Of The Dead

Dia de los Meurtos - more commonly known as the Day of the Dead – is a traditional festivity dating back almost 3,000 years, that is practiced all over Mexico and in certain parts of the United States. The story behind this idiosyncratic holiday is that over 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors found what are now the remnants of the Aztec Empire, they had encountered the indigenous peoples participating in an activity that seemed to mock death. This ritual was in honor of their goddess Mictecacihuati, the Queen of Mictlan (the underworld), as they believed her role was to watch over the bones of the deceased. The original festival, which developed into the modern Dia de los Meurtos, fell on the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, which was dedicated to honoring and celebrating the Lady of the Dead (Mictecacihuati). The Spaniards were furious, and tried (and failed) to eradicate this tradition. The reason their plan was unsuccessful was because this ritual …show more content…
Catholic’s believe that the deceased do not always go directly to heaven or hell, but sometimes go to purgatory, a sort of holding space, where they are cleansed of their sins before entering heaven. Now, instead of praying to Mictecacihuati, the Day of the Dead is a day to offer those prayers which may cleanse the deceased of their sins so they may enter heaven. Since the Spaniards colonized in what is now Mexico, the Day of the Dead has taken a more Catholic turn. Known as All Souls and All Saints Day, the more Catholic parts of Mexico and the United States spend the day scrubbing graves and going to Mass to honor the dead, as apposed to the more Indigenous style of dances, music and celebratory food and festivities.