Following all the fun and dressing up on the 31st October for Halloween comes a more sombre day in Spain. November 1st is yet another fiesta but a very important one for the Catholic community. Known as All Saints Day (Dia de todos los Santos) to most or Day of the Dead (Dia de todos Muertos) , this day is set aside especially to remember those who have passed on. However, it is not a morbid occasion, more a time to welcome back those family members who have departed. This is either done at home or by the graveside and involves the whole family.
At the cemetery, everyone takes the opportunity to tidy up and decorate the grave, mainly with flowers such as marigolds and chrysanthemums. Families bring picnic’s featuring meat dishes in spicy sauces, cookies, chocolate drinks and a special egg–batter bread called ‘bread of the dead’ (pan de muerto). Food and drink are also placed on the grave along with photographs and sometimes cigarettes and beer.
In the home an alter is often erected and again covered with flower and also photographs, an article of clothing, maybe a diploma or a prized procession of the departed. Again food and drink feature in the celebrations although traditionally, only supper was eaten on this day. Bread of the Dead was and still is in some parts, baked with plastic toy skeletons hidden inside which were considered very lucky when discovered.
In both cases everything is done to entice the souls of the dead back to the living. Stories are told about them and happy times remembered. Some people feel that the more you talk about the deceased, the more they are likely to come back. Others believe they will come back on this day anyway but everyone agrees it is a time to only say good things about the dead.
In Mexico Day of the Dead is part of a two day celebration, starting the day after Halloween with the Dia de Los Angelitos, the Day of the Little Angels on 1st November and Day of the Dead on 2nd November. Traditionally Day of the Little Angels is when departed children are remembered leaving the Adults to be honoured on the second day of the festival. Originally, it all took place in the month of July or at the beginning of August. It was moved to coincide with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve rather than at the beginning of summer.
It is felt that remembering the dead on Dia de todos Muertos helps with the grieving process especially if the person has recently passed on. Sharing happy memories together with your family while eating and drinking certainly seems a nice way to be remembered.