The Day of the Dead in Mexico, Cambodia, and other places in the world

Honoring the dead in November
Day of the Dead in Mexico
La Catrina
The skulls
Homage to the dead
Mictlán
Offerings
Day of the Dead in Mexico
Incense
Cempasuchil flower
'Bread of Death'
Heart-shaped bread
Bone cleaning
Puppies
Dance
Guatemala
Guatemala
Cambodia
Cambodia: Pchum Ben
Souls mingle with the living
Cambodia honors the dead
Honoring the dead in November

Worldwide, the first days of November have been designated as dates to pay extra respect to our loved ones who passed away. On November 1, deceased children are honored, while the second is about all the dead, including adults.

Day of the Dead in Mexico

In Mexico, the early days of November have been celebrated with the Day of the Dead for over 3,000 years. It goes back to the time when the Aztecs, Mayans, Purépechas, Nahuas, and Totonacas practiced rituals to honor their ancestors.

Photo: ernestordzglz / Pixabay

La Catrina

The figure of the goddess Mictecacíhuatl, better known as 'the lady of death' from that time, is currently represented by 'Catrina,' a character created by the Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada, over 100 years ago.

Photo: Alex Meza / Unsplash

The skulls

In pre-Columbian times, indigenous peoples kept the skulls of the dead as trophies to use during sacrificial rituals, as a way of representing rebirth. Currently, they are made of sugar!

Photo: Jeremy Lwanga / Unsplash

Homage to the dead

Nowadays, in Mexico, both children and adults who died are remembered on the same day: November 2nd. This tradition comes from the pre-Hispanic era when native people believed in 'Mictlán', a place that was divided into houses that were arrived at according to the way of dying.

Photo: Mario Rodriguez / Unsplash

Mictlán

The ancient peoples of the region believed that those who died on the battlefield entered the 'Tonatiuh Ichan' (house of the sun) and children went to the 'Cincalco' (house of the god Tonacatecutli).

Photo: Marv Watson / Unsplash

Offerings

The offerings were placed next to the body of the deceased so he could eat before starting his journey. The tradition endures in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Day of the Dead in Mexico

Native people also performed ceremonies next to the ashes or body of the deceased because they believed it was a way of helping their souls to rest.

Photo: Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Incense

Another element linked to this date is incense. At the time of pre-Columbian peoples, the object was used to guide the path of the dead to the light by smell.

Photo: Match Sùmáyà / Unsplash

Cempasuchil flower

The flower, widely used in Mexico to decorate altars and tombs, served to create a more marked path for the spirits.

Photo: Roger Ce / Unsplash

'Bread of Death'

In Mexico, a special type of bread is common for this date. Its origin is linked to human sacrifices in the rituals of ancient native peoples. It represents the heart of a princess.

Photo: Gerardo Covarrubias / Unsplash

Heart-shaped bread

With the arrival of the Spaniards on the American continent, the practice was abolished and a heart-shaped, red bread replaced the actual heart.

Photo: Fernanda Martinez / Unsplash

Bone cleaning

In the Pomuch community in southeastern Mexico, it is common to see people extracting bones from where they are kept to clean them. This tradition also comes from pre-Hispanic times and is considered a gesture of love.

Photo: jhraskon / Pixabay

Puppies

While in Yucatan (Mexico), people often tie up their dogs so they don't scare away souls.

Photo: Ralph Spandl / Unsplash

Dance

In Oaxaca (Mexico), the dance of the Huehues is a tradition that is still alive. Movements that link the living and the dead, are made by dancers dressed in ancestral clothes, hats, and wooden masks.

Photo:  Marlon Lara / Unsplash

Guatemala

As in Mexico, the dead are remembered with great festivities. Guatemalans often fly kites made by the deceased's families.

Guatemala

It is believed that this tradition came from Spain and is intended to make an offering to the dead.

Photo: Bee Felten-Leidel / Unsplash

Cambodia

Moving away from Latin America, Cambodia is another country where the dead are remembered with important rituals. Pchum Ben is one of the most popular holidays in the country.

Photo: Paul Szewczyk / Unsplash

Cambodia: Pchum Ben

The date for the holiday varies according to the Khmer year. It usually falls in September or October of the Gregorian calendar.

Photo: Alexander / Unsplash

Souls mingle with the living

For approximately 15 days, Cambodians celebrate the opening of the gates of hell, when souls mingle with the living to be guided towards the right path.

Cambodia honors the dead

Here, you can see how people pour water on a Buddha statue as they pray during the Pchum Ben festival at a pagoda in Phnom Penh.

More for you