{"id":2365,"date":"2023-10-26T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T02:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.lat\/blog\/?p=2365"},"modified":"2024-04-30T11:47:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T03:47:17","slug":"day-of-the-dead-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.lat\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"Day of the Dead: What You Need to Know about This Holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day of the Dead, or D\u00eda de los Muertos, is a two-day annual celebration of life and death firstly introduced in Mexico and is now celebrated throughout Latin America between November 1<\/span>st<\/span> and 2<\/span>nd<\/span>. During this time, Mexicans remember and honor their loved ones who have passed.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this <\/span>Pacific Prime Latin America<\/span><\/a> article, we explore the Day of the Dead and what you need to know about this Mexican holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"General<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

How is Day of the Dead Celebrated in Mexico?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To honor the loved ones who have passed away and accept that death is a part of life, Mexicans visit cemeteries, decorate the graves, and make offerings called <\/span>ofrendas<\/span><\/em>, which are home altars created to welcome the spirits of their deceased family members and friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ofrendas<\/span><\/em> are often decorated with colorful marigold flowers, photos of the departed and their favorite meals or liquors, as well as skulls and gleaming candles. <\/span>Ofrendas<\/span><\/em> are believed to encourage visits from the afterworld as the souls hear their families\u2019 prayers and smell their favorite foods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The History of Day of the Dead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Back in Pre-Hispanic times, the dead were buried near their family homes, typically in a tomb underneath the main patio. It was considered important to maintain connections with deceased ancestors, who were believed to exist on another planet after death.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional Day of the Dead practices believe that spirits come back to the world of the living for one day of the year to be with their loved ones. The first day of the festival is dedicated to the spirits of babies and children, while the following day is considered the day adult souls arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Four Facts about Day of the Dead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From spirit offerings and grave visits to the connection with Halloween and how to join the celebration as a foreigner, here are four facts regarding this heartwarming celebration that not many people know of.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Bread<\/p>\n

1. Spirit Offerings on Day of the Dead<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Offerings of things the deceased enjoyed when they were alive along with special foods are a common way to greet spirits. These offerings are placed on an altar inside the family home as they believe that spirits consume the aroma and essence of a meal instead of the actual food.<\/span><\/p>\n

The offered food will then be consumed by the living once the spirits have departed, while other items that are often placed on <\/span>Ofrendas<\/span><\/em> include a festive bread called pan de Muertos, sugar skulls inscribed with the person\u2019s name on top, and seasonal marigolds for a fragrant touch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

2. Visiting the Graves of Loved Ones<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since people used to be buried near their homes in the past, there wasn\u2019t a need for decorating home altars as they were in the same place. In the present days, however, the dead are no longer buried close to home, so graves are decorated with the belief that the spirits will first return there.<\/span><\/p>\n

In some places, flower petals are used to create paths from the grave to the home so the dead can find their way. Similarly, some communities traditionally spend the entire night in the cemetery and turn it into a festive occasion with picnics, music, drinking, and talking all through the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

3. D\u00eda de los Muertos and Halloween<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Day of the Dead and Halloween might share some features, but they are two separate holidays. Both events originated from early cultures\u2019 beliefs surrounding death that incorporated with Christianity later on. Likewise, both are based on the belief that the dead return at a specific time of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Halloween customs appear to derive from the idea that the dead were malicious, hence why children are disguised to prevent them from harm. Day of the Dead festivities, on the other hand, involve joyfully welcoming spirits as family members who are reunited after a year.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Day of the Dead continues to evolve, the merging of customs and cultures continues as well. Nowadays, Halloween festivities are growing in Mexico with Halloween masks and costumes sold right next to Day of the Dead items.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

4. Celebrating D\u00eda de los Muertos in Mexico as a Foreigner<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Day of the Dead is a great time of year to visit Mexico. In addition to being able to witness the special holiday, you\u2019ll also get to experience Mexico\u2019s delightful fall season. Even though the holiday is a private occasion for families, you\u2019ll still be able to enjoy the public displays.<\/span><\/p>\n

D\u00eda de los Muertos celebrations are done in different ways throughout different parts of Mexico. The southern region is known for more colorful festivities, especially in Chiapas, Michoacan, and Oaxaca, while celebrations in rural areas are quieter.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also join special<\/span> Day of the Dead tours<\/span><\/a> that allow you to explore Mexico with a professional guide. As long as you are respectful, you can visit cemeteries and other public spaces where Mexicans remember and honor their loved ones who have passed.<\/span><\/p>\n

If a trip to Mexico isn\u2019t on the cards this year, you can join in on celebrating the holiday by creating your own altar to honor your deceased loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Skeleton<\/p>\n

Put Your Health First with Pacific Prime Latin America<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s impossible to think about death without thinking about life. Whether you plan on traveling to or living in Mexico, it\u2019s important to secure health insurance so that you can access quality medical care without worrying about out-of-pocket expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a leading global insurance broker, <\/span>Pacific Prime Latin America<\/span><\/a> can help you find the best health insurance for your needs and budget. No matter if you\u2019re looking for <\/span>health insurance for expats in Mexico<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>health insurance in Mexico for US citizens<\/span><\/a>, or anything in between.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact us<\/span><\/a> for a free plan comparison or unbiased insurance advice today!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Get<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day of the Dead, or D\u00eda de los Muertos, is a two-day annual celebration of life and death firstly introduced in Mexico and is now celebrated throughout Latin America between November 1st and 2nd. During this time, Mexicans remember and honor their loved ones who have passed. In this Pacific Prime Latin America article, we …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":2748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[767,768,454,1544,1545,40,1183,1206],"class_list":["post-2365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ban_sin","tag-cta_gen","tag-expat-health-insurance","tag-health-insurance-for-expats-in-mexico","tag-health-insurance-in-mexico-for-us-citizens","tag-international-health-insurance","tag-latin-america-health-insurance","tag-mexico-health-insurance"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDay of the Dead: What You Need To Know About This Holiday<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Day of the Dead is an important Mexican holiday that takes place around the same time as Halloween. 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