Sources of information

• La fiesta prehispánica del Día de Muertos

• 10 CELEBRACIONES DE DÍA DE MUERTOS EN EL MUNDO

•  10 CELEBRACIONES DE DÍA DE MUERTOS

• ALTAR DE MUERTOS

• Dia de los Muertos (Day of The Dead)

10 CELEBRACIONES DE DÍA DE MUERTOS EN EL MUNDO

10 CELEBRACIONES DE DÍA DE MUERTOS EN EL MUNDO

10 CELEBRACIONES DE DÍA DE MUERTOS EN EL MUNDO

10 CELEBRACIONES DE DÍA DE MUERTOS EN EL MUNDO

"Altar de muertos"

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An altar is a table, platform or even an entire room in which there are flowers, food, photographs, sugarcane, candles, confetti, a cross of salt and sugar skulls, among other things. "Altar de muertos" represents the Mexican way to celebrate this fest and is an icon of meanings that make this tradition something magical. An altar can have as many levels as the family want, but the most common are:

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·     Altar of two levels: Means the division of heaven and earth, which means the fruits of the earth and the goodness of heaven.

·      Altar of three levels: Means heaven, earth and the underworld, although to catolic religion represents the holy trinity.

·      Altar of seven levels: This one is the most popular; means the seven levels that the soul must need to pass through to get rest. In Otomi culture, the seven steps represents the seven deadly sins. Number seven is associated with the number of destinations that according to the Aztec culture existed for different types of death.

México

In almost all Mexican homes, the Day of the Dead is an important tradition and families create an altar with flowers, candles, sacred images, sugar skulls, and the deceased’s favourite food and drink.

 

The popular belief is that the souls of our loved ones that we miss, returns from the grave during The Day of the Dead. For this reason, they are greeted with an altar. Also, death is represented in a very peculiar way. Mexicans use sarcasm to mock her. One example is the popular "La Catrina": a skull wearing different clothing as a sign of the presence of death. During this celebration, Mexicans realize several activities that are very unique. 

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Create “calaveritas” is very typical. It´s about a rhyme of popular and unpopular characters using the theme of death.

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Bakers work overtime to make a special bread called “pan de muerto". These loaves are shaped like mummies. Some families stay overnight at the cemeteries to have a picnic at the graves of their loved ones. They tell stories and talk to the dead while eating their favorite food. Children also roam the streets carrying small coffins or plastic pumpkins. They knock the doors and ask for money, a similar practice to the American Halloween tradition of trick-or-treat.

China

The Ching Ming festival is to the Chinese what The Day of the Dead is for Mexicans. On this days, families go to visit the grave of their deceased relatives. This festival took place in the evening of April 4 and April 5. The festival may last a month.

Scotland

One of the traditions left by the Celts in the highlands of Scotland, is a ritual in which young men walk around their farms during the night with torches to protect their family from evil spirits that roam that night. Meanwhile, women peel an apple in front of a mirror illuminated by a chandelier, if they can do it in a single strip of peel, they will see the image of her future husband in the mirror. It is also celebrate on October 31, the end of the harvest.

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Ireland

This country performs a celebration called "Samhain", which give rise to the current Halloween. The "Samhain" is celebrated on October 31, which is the date when the ancient Celts gathered supplies and sacrifice cattle to prepare for winter. The Celts believed that on the night when they were doing this festival, the spirits of the dead returned to visited the mortal world, so they lit bonfires to ward off evil spirits.

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India

The Mahalaya is very important to the Hindu community; it marks the beginning of a peacefull year. The religious rite consist in pray for the loved ones who have died. At the ceremony, people pray for souls and ask several wishes to get peace for the rest of the year.

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