In tandem with Halloween, another holiday takes the spotlight at the end of October and beginning of November: Día De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This is an important holiday for many people of Mexican ancestry and therefore is quite popular in San Antonio.
In this article, we will explore the history and traditions of the Day of the Dead, and list some of the major festivities that will take place this year in San Antonio.
What is the Day of the Dead?
People in Mexico celebrate Día De Los Muertos on November 1 and 2 as a way to honor loved ones who have passed away. You can also find Día De Los Muertos celebrations in Guatemala, Brazil, Spain and within US Mexican-American communities.
Day of the Dead is actually two different celebrations. November 1st is known as either Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels) and remembers the children who have died. On November 2nd adults are remembered on Día de los Muertos.
In both of the Day of the Dead celebrations, celebrants believe the gates of heaven open at midnight on October 31st with the spirits of all deceased children spending time with their families for the day. The same thing occurs the next day for the adults.
Despite the somber purpose of the holiday, the celebrations are quite festive, with bright and colorful decorations and music. To commemorate the ones they have lost, people construct elaborate altars in their homes and decorate the graves of loved ones. Traditionally these altars include sugar skulls, cardboard skeletons, tissue paper decorations, incense, and marigolds. There are also offerings of food, toys, candles, and special beverages.
Day of the Dead History
The history of the Day of the Dead dates back over 3000 years. The Aztecs and other pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico long ago observed rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors. Many of these festivities honored the goddess Mictecacihuatl, also known as the “Lady of the Dead”. With the arrival of European colonists and Christian missionaries, over time the indigenous people combined the Catholic All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day with their own much older beliefs.
Day of the Dead Traditions
During the three days of the Dia de los Muertos festivities, people build elaborate altars in their homes. These include photos and memorabilia of loved ones, as well as their favorite foods and beverages. The altars might also include small skeletons and sugar skulls, as well as pillows and blankets so the dead can rest. While gathered around these altars, family members tell stories, often humorous, of those who have died, and they say prayers for their afterlife.
Families will also go to the graves of their loved ones, cleaning them and building altars. Orange Mexican marigolds are an important part of this tradition, as they are believed to attract souls of the dead. As part of their offerings, family members leave small trinkets, candles, and other decorations, as well as toys for the children and bottles of tequila or jars of atole for adults.
Day of the Dead Food
Families will leave many different kinds of foods on the altars as offerings. These foods include sugar skulls, candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (“bread of dead”), a sweet egg bread baked in many different shapes and sometimes frosted with white to represent bones. They might also leave fruit, nuts, tortillas, hot cocoa, tequila, and water. All of these foods are meant to welcome the spirits, encourage them to stay to listen to the family’s prayers, and rest a while.
How San Antonio Will Celebrate the Day of the Dead
San Antonio will have several observances of this holiday. Here is just a sampling:
La Villita Presents Día De Los Muertos
Saturday, Oct 29, 2016 – Sunday, Oct 30, 2016
La Villita Historic Arts Village
418 Villita St, San Antonio, Texas 78205
Enjoy traditional art, culture and live music, as well as the largest open altar exhibition in the city.
Traders Village San Antonio Presents Día De Los Muertos
Saturday, Oct 22, 2016 – Saturday, Oct 22, 2016
Traders Village
9333 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas 78242
Features a parade, altars, artists, live music and dancing. Wear a costume and join the parade. Kids can make their own Día De Los Muertos masks.
Día De Los Muertos Celebration
Sunday, October 30, 2016
3:00 – 8:00 pm
Galería Guadalupe
Participate in art-making workshops, face-painting, a peace and remembrance procession, and visit community altars while enjoying pan de muerto y chocolate.
Joining Your Remembrance
We at ABC Home and Commercial Services send our best wishes to all families who have lost family members and friends over the past year and join you in celebrating their lives.