The Day of the Dead in the Spanish-Speaking World
The festival known as El Día de los Muertos is a traditional celebration in Spanish-speaking countries that has become quite famous -especially in Mexico- for blending religious traditions with indigenous elements. Owing to its rich cultural significance, in 2003 UNESCO recognized Mexico’s Day of the Dead as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This celebration is quite ancient. In the year 610, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to Saint Mary and the Martyrs and established the Feast of All Saints for May 13, following the tradition of the Easter Church. Later, around the year 740, Pope Gregory III sought to promote this celebration by consecrating one of the chapels of St. Peter’s Basilica in honour of all the saints. Finally, in the year 835, Pope Gregory VI officially decreed November 1 as the Feast of All Saints, with the purpose of consolidating Christianity in the face of the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the summer and the beginning of winter.
In 998, the Benedictine monk Saint Odilo of Cluny instituted All Souls’ Day. The date set was November 2, and its purpose was to dedicate the day to praying for the souls of those in purgatory, fulfilling penance before reaching heaven and attaining salvation.
Since then, the Catholic world has celebrated these two dates: November 1 as All Saint’s Day (honouring those who have died and are already in the presence of God), and November 2 as All Souls’ Day (for those who have died and are still in purgatory, undergoing purification before reaching heaven).
Pre-Colombian civilizations such as the Aztecs offered objects in the tombs of the dead to assist them on their journey to the afterlife. With the arrival of the Spanish in the Americas, indigenous traditions that paid homage to death merged with the Catholic faith’s veneration of saints, giving rise to a wide variety of customs and celebrations throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated with great devotion. Altars, offerings, colourful decorations on graves in cemeteries, and special foods -including the famous pan de muerto- foster family unity. The belief that the souls of the departed return to the world of the living to share time with them is a beautiful way to remember loved ones who have passed away and to celebrate life itself.
In general, honouring the faithful departure is a deeply rooted practice throughout Mexico. However, it is worth noting that this festivity is not celebrated in the same way everywhere in the country, as each region has its own unique traditions and customs.
In Many Spanish-Speaking countries, November is considered the month of the souls. In Costa Rica, for example, many families visit cemeteries on November 1 to clean and prepare the graves for the following day’s observance. The celebration takes place on November 2 with special Masses, as families gather to visit graves, remember their loved ones, and bring them flowers.
In some regions of El Salvador, the Calabiuza Festival is held, where people parade through the streets dressed as La Santa Muerte (Holy Death) or take part in the “midnight cry.” This moment marks the height of the celebration, when the procession reaches its peak at night and participants shout and perform to symbolically bridge the worlds of the living and the dead. During this festivity, participants honour not only the deceased but also the tradition of asking for calabaza con miel (pumpkin with honey). The spirits are believed to be guided by the inner light of the pumpkin, while the honey symbolizes sweet abundance.
In Guatemala, All Saints’ Day is celebrated with visits to cemeteries, horse races, traditional foods, and the decoration of graves with flowers. A particular distinctive element of Guatemalan celebrations is the Giant Kite Festival, in which enormous kites -crafted over several months- are flown. An important part of the tradition involves writing messages on the kites’ structures to send them to the afterlife.
In the Dominical Republic, families remember their departed loved ones by visiting cemeteries to clean graves and pray. Holy hours (horas santas) are held, and in homes, candles are lit beside photographs of the deceased. This practice represents the enduring connection between the living and the dead.
In South America, the Day of the Dead festivities vary from country to country. In Colombia, cemeteries are filled with wreaths and floral arrangements adorning the graves of the departed. Priests celebrate Masses and, together with laypeople, offer prayers for the faithful departed.
Peru celebrates All Saint’s Day with various religious observances, including cemetery visits. Families gather to remember loved ones and bring offerings to their graves.
In Ecuador, the Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 2 with the preparation of a traditional dish called guaguas de pan -bread shaped like babies- symbolizing deceased children.
Further south, in Argentina, the Day of the Souls (Día de las Almas) is observed. In some regions, homes are decorated with paper flowers, and cemetery tombstones are adorned as well. Many of the country’s traditions bear resemblance to those practiced in Mexico.
Equatorial Guinea also observes these festivities. The faithful gather in churches for Mass, and cemeteries are visited to bring flowers and remember the deceased.
In Spain, the Day of the Dead is not celebrated in the same manner as in Mexico or in some other Spanish-speaking countries. On the Iberian Peninsula, All Saints’ Day is observed on November 1, and All Souls’ Day on November 2. These days are marked by religious ceremonies, and families visit cemeteries to decorate the graves of their loved ones. In some areas, people enjoy traditional sweets such as huesos de santo (“Saint’s bones”).
In conclusion, Spanish-speaking countries share common elements in their celebrations honouring the dead. Generally, people clean and decorate graves, attend Mass, bring flowers and light candles, and pray for the souls of those who have passes away.
To enjoy a song explaining the Day of the Dead click here and to learn how to build a Day of the Dead altar click here. If you prefer to follow the instructions in Spanish to build the altar click here.
References:
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Telediario (2024) Día de Todos los Santos y Día de Muertos: ¿cuál es la diferencia? 1 November. Available at: https://www.telediario.mx/nacional/dia-de-todos-los-santos-y-dia-de-muertos-cual-es-la-diferencia
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