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Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

October 12, 2020

Includes 30-minute Dia de los Muertos play and three educational modules: student study guide, instrument walk-through, and guide to making an ofrenda (altar). Click here to be taken to this exciting and educational event!

History of Dia de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead is a long-standing Mexican celebration originating in the pre-Hispanic era; it pays tribute to death during the last week of October and the first days of November. Death was recognized as the beginning of the journey to Mictlán, the underworld of Aztec mythology, where the deceased would gather with the god and goddess of death, Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacíhuatl. Once the recently dead gathered with the gods in Mictlán, they had to make an offering in order to achieve eternal rest. 

When the Spanish colonized Mexico (known then as New Spain), the Day of the Dead celebration was modified in order to evangelize the indigenous people of the land. Now, Catholics celebrate the first and second day of November as All Saints Day (for the spirits of deceased children) and All Souls Day (for the spirits of deceased adults).

For both ancient indigenous and modern Mexicans, death is seen as a transcendence of life and is recognized through various Day of the Dead rituals. 

Celebration

Altar ofrendas , or offerings, are made. An offering is a pre-Hispanic Mexican tradition meant to honor and maintain ties with the deceased, who no longer inhabit the land of the living but now take shape in the gifts of the altar. Altar ofrendas may include any of the following:

  • Candles, to help guide deceased loved ones toward the light
  • Cempasuchil, or marigold flowers, used for their aroma and to make deceased loved ones feel welcome
  • Water, symbolizing the fountain of life
  • Salt, a purifying element
  • Incense, to keep away bad spirits
  • Calaveritas de azúcar, or sugar skulls, which represent the beautiful lives of d eparted loved ones
  • Liquor, believed to immortalize the dead
  • An ash cross, signifying the verse from Genesis 3:19: dust you are and to dust you s hall return
  • Personal objects belonging to the deceased
  • Foods, breads, beverages, and Mexican candy that the departed loved one  enjoyed

Nowadays, most altars are made of two levels, which portray Earth and Heaven, but some altars contain three levels, the third alluding to the Holy Spirit. Others include seven levels, representing the number of levels the soul must go through in order to achieve eternal rest.

Visiting deceased loved ones in their cemeteries is another traditional Day of the Dead activity. Gathering friends and family at gravesites allows for cleaning and fixing the tombs, decorating them with flowers, and remembering loved ones who’ve died.

In 2008, Mexico’s Day of the Dead was named by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  

 (en Español)

 
 Historia

El día de Muertos como celebración se origina en la era prehispánica con los mexicas; se rendía tributo a la muerte durante la última semana de octubre y los primeros días de noviembre. La muerte se reconocía como el inicio del viaje al lugar de los muertos, denominado Mictlán, hasta llegar con el dios y la diosa de los muertos (Mictlantechutli y Mictecacíhuatl). Al llegar con los dioses se les hacía una ofrenda para poder conseguir el descanso eterno. 

Al llegar los españoles para colonizar lo que fue la Nueva España, la tradición se modificó para poder evangelizar a los diversos pueblos indígenas. En el catolicismo, se celebra el 1 y 2 de noviembre el día de Todos los Santos (las ánimas de los niños) y el día de los Fieles Difuntos (las ánimas de los adultos), o día de los muertos, respectivamente. 

Celebración

Se colocan ofrendas y un altar de muertos.

Ofrendas

“ La ofrenda es la manifestación de las ideas de los antiguos mexicanos sobre la permanencia de los lazos que se mantenían con los difuntos, los que no abandonan del todo este plano y conviven con los vivos. Para los antiguos pueblos indígenas de México, y hasta ahora, la muerte es vida y trascendencia que se traduce en rituales como las ofrendas de día de muertos.”

Altar de muertos

Se adorna con papel picado, comida, bebida, dulces típicos mexicanos, pan de muerte y las imágenes de nuestros seres queridos difuntos. Se colocan veladoras y flores de cempasúchil las cuales indican que nuestros seres queridos son bienvenidos. Estos son algunos de los elementos que se colocan en el altar

  • Agua -> fuente de vida
  • Sal -> elemento purificador
  • Veladoras -> luz de guía
  • Incienso -> limpia el lugar de los malos espíritus
  • Flores (cempasúchil) -> camino que guía al difunto; se utilizan también por  aroma y mera decoración
  • Pan de muerto
  • Retrato del difunto
  • Calaveras de azúcar
  • Licor
  • Papel Picado 
  • Cruz de ceniza
  • Objetos personales que caracterizan al difunto al igual que su comida preferida

Hoy en día el altar más común es armado con dos niveles, los cuales representan el cielo y la tierra, pero se pueden armar altares de tres (que hace alusión a la Santísima Trinidad) y hasta siete niveles (niveles que debe de atravesar el alma para alcanzar su descanso espiritual).

La visita a los panteones

“Visitar a nuestros difuntos en los panteones, es también una de las actividades más tradicionales de Día de Muertos. El propósito es poder limpiar las tumbas, arreglarlas y ponerles flores a nuestros difuntos.”

Tradición catalogada como “Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad” por la UNESCO en 2008.

https://descubreteviajando.com/como-se-celebra-el-dia-de-muertos-en-mexico/

https://culturacolectiva.com/historia/la-ofrenda-de-dia-de-muertos-un-ritual-de-la-memoria

https://culturacolectiva.com/historia/dia-de-muertos-origen-de-la-tradicion-y-como-celebrarla

https://culturacolectiva.com/historia/la-ofrenda-de-dia-de-muertos-un-ritual-de-la-memoria

The Hidden Losses of Grief: Understanding Secondary Losses

March 27, 2025
More Than One Loss Grief is often thought of as the pain we feel after losing a loved one. But grief isn’t just about the person who died —it’s also about everything that went with them. The routines you shared, the roles you played, the future you imagined, and even the relationships that shift in the aftermath. These are known as secondary losses, and they can be just as difficult as the primary loss itself. Secondary losses are often not antcipated. You might expect to grieve your loved one, but you may not anticipate the deep loneliness that comes from losing the small daily interactions you had with them. You might feel the pain of losing not just a spouse, parent, or friend, but also the identity that came with being their partner, caregiver, or confidant. These hidden losses can make grief feel even heavier, and understanding them can help you navigate this challenging time. What Are Secondary Losses? Grief touches every part of life, which means secondary losses can take many forms. Some of the most common include: · Loss of roles: If you were a caregiver, a partner, or a child who looked to a parent for guidance, that role is now different—or gone entirely. Adjusting to life without that identity can feel disorienting and painful. · Loss of routines: Grief often disrupts the everyday patterns of life. The morning coffee you always shared, the Sunday phone calls, the daily check-ins—small but meaningful aspect of our lives. · Loss of relationships: Some friendships and family connections change after a loss. People may not know how to support you, or they may distance themselves. Others may expect you to grieve on their timeline, making it harder to maintain those relationships. · Loss of security: This could be financial, especially if the person who died contributed to household income. It could also be emotional—the feeling that you had a safe and predictable life before this loss. · Loss of future plans: Every loss changes the future. Dreams you shared, trips you planned, milestones you expected to celebrate together—these losses can hit unexpectedly, sometimes long after the initial grief has subsided. The Emotional Impact of Secondary Losses Secondary losses can feel like waves that keep coming, even when you think you’ve found solid ground. Because they are not always acknowledged by others, they can feel isolating. But just like the primary loss, they deserve space and recognition. Navigating Secondary Losses: Practical Advice · Name and validate the losses. It may help to make a list of the secondary losses you’re experiencing. Acknowledging them can bring clarity and help you acknowledge the many losses you have. · Create new routines and roles. While the old ones may never be replaced, finding small ways to establish new patterns can bring a sense of stability. This could be as simple as a new morning ritual or a different way of honoring your loved one’s memory. · Seek out supportive relationships. Some connections may change, but new ones can also emerge. Finding people who understand grief—whether through support groups, therapy, or trusted friends—can help ease the loneliness. · Give yourself permission to grieve these losses. Just because they aren’t always talked about doesn’t mean they aren’t real. Allow yourself to mourn what has changed, just as you mourn the person you lost. · Consider professional support. If secondary losses feel overwhelming or make it difficult to function, a grief counselor can help you process them and find ways to cope. Grief Is Layered, But Healing Is Possible Grief is never just about one loss. It’s about all the pieces of life that shift and change in the wake of that loss. If you find yourself grieving things beyond the person who died, know that you are not alone. Be patient with yourself as you navigate these changes, and remember that support is available when you need it.

Creating a Grief Support Network

July 20, 2024
Written by our in-house Grief Counselor, Amanda Nelsen.

Essential Living Before Inevitable Dying

March 31, 2021
In the last few paragraphs of Greg McKeown’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less , the author tells a heartbreaking story of a man whose three-year-old daughter has died. The father wished to put together a slideshow of her little life to play at her funeral. He had documented on his camera every outing he’d ever taken with his daughter, and he had hours of footage. But as he scrolled through the thousands of photos and videos, he realized, with growing alarm, that nearly all the images he had captured were of the sights, views, meals, and landmarks of their trips. He had practically no close-up images of his daughter. He had failed to recognize what was essential in his life until she was gone.

Blame: A Great Indicator to Look Within

November 17, 2020
Dear Ted,

Grief, Addiction, and Courage in Allowing Mistakes

November 5, 2020
Dear Ted,

Sitting in the Unknown Can Be Difficult

October 23, 2020
Dear Ted,

I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

October 19, 2020
Gained in Translation

The Guest House, by Rumi

October 2, 2020
The Guest House This being human is a guest house.Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,some momentary awareness comesas an unexpected visitor.Welcome and entertain them all!Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,who violently sweep your houseempty of its furniture,still, treat each guest honorably.He may be clearing you outfor some new delight.The dark thought, the shame, the malice.meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.Be grateful for whatever comes.because each has been sentas a guide from beyond.— Jellaludin Rumi, translated into English by Coleman Barks

Asking for Help Takes Bravery and Can Save a Life

September 28, 2020
Dear Ted,

Writing Your Own Obituary

September 21, 2020
The first known obituary dates back to about 60 BC, found carved into the stone and metal tablets hung in the Forum of Julius Caesar’s ancient Rome. The obits section of these “early newspapers” was considered part of Rome’s social news, listed alongside gladiator battle results and notable marriage announcements.
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