Scholastic Fernando Velázquez, OMI, writes about the ancient tradition of the "Day of the Dead" (El Día de los Muertos), as it is celebrated in his native Mexico.  Currently a member of the Oblate House of Theology community in Chicago, he has begun his first year of theology at Catholic Theological Union.  His parents live in the Oblate parish in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

Each person dies three times:

-         when we die

-         when we are returned to the mother earth

-         when there is no one that still remembers us.

                                                                    Dicho popular de los aztecas

The tradition of “el día de los muertos” has its roots in pre-Hispanic America. In México, the festivities of the cult of dead dates back to 1800 B.C. In the text of Flori-Canto of Acomitztl, Netzahualcóyotl, one of the most important philosophers and poets of pre-Hispanic America, used the topics of death and life as inspirational motifs to his magnificent work. More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish conquistadors landed in what is now México, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.

            It was a ritual that indigenous people had been practicing for at least 3000 years, a ritual that the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate.  This ritual is known today as “Día de los Muertos,” or Day of Dead. It is celebrated in México and some parts of the U.S.  Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls. The skulls were used by Aztecs to symbolize death and rebirth, as well as to honor dead people.

            Aztecs believed the dead come back to visit during the month-long ritual. They saw death as a part of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awaken. The cult of the dead is a basic element of the religion of our Mexican ancestors. They believed that life and death form a deity; death is a transition to something better.

            This feast was linked to the Aztec calendar, to agriculture and was the only feast celebrated during the harvest.

“If our dead has to sense neither the life –

Tell me how you die and I tell you who you were.”

To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Nov. 1-2). Previously it fell on the ninth of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and it was celebrated during the entire month. This celebration was presided by “the Lady of the Dead”, the goddess Miztecacihuatl.

            El Día de los Muertos is celebrated today in two ways: ’

1.      Families go to the cemetery visiting the graves of their deceased. They clean and paint the headstones, arrange flowers, especially flowers of the dead (marigolds), or better known in México as “flores de cempasuchil” which in the nauatl means “flores de mil hojas o petalos”, flowers of one thousand petals. Also they light candles and some times they spend the night in the cemetery  (sort of a picnic).

2.      The other way is building altars in their homes. The altars are dedicated to either children (Nov 1^st), where they put candies, and sugar skulls or “calaveras de azucar”; or for Adults (Nov 2^nd).

These altars symbolize a loving dialogue between death and life. This dialogue is represented by the “ofrendas” (offerings). An “ofrenda” made to the deceased love ones can be the deceased’s favorite food, “flores de cempasuchil”, water for those “muertos” that are thirsty after that they have being walking to the cemetery; colored paper designs, candles which illuminates their road to the “Ofrendas”, and incense. Also sugar skulls, bread of the dead, liquors, cigarettes, photographs, money, toys, saints images and other items which individuals have cherished during their lifetime. It is believed that on November 1, the spirits of the deceased children, also called “angelitos,” will come and eat all the candies and play with the toys. By midnight they will go away and open the way to the adults on November 2, where they also will enjoy the “ofrendas” that their relatives brought them. 

             We Mexicans make fun of everything. Nothing escapes, us, not eve death.   However neither do we escape from death. Another ancient custom for these days consists in “written skulls.” “Las Calaveras” are satirical verses that are directed at family members or at friends and companions. And with all the respect that my Oblate Brothers deserve, here is one:

Por Rumbos de América

dicen que anda la muerte.

Con gran cantidad de ganas

y con muy poco de suerte.

Al fin llegó a los Estados Unidos

Donde se dice hay OMIs viviendo,

Para ellos la muerte les hace los mandados.

Seguro se sientes afortunados

Sin saber que su fin les ha llegado.

La muerte sin pensarlo

 a todos se ha llevado.

Empezando por la administración provincial,

Pasando por las parroquias Oblatas

Y terminando con los escolásticos.

La calaca alegre se va a su lugar

Pues a todos los Oblatos se llevó.

“!Oh calaquita!” dijeron los Oblatos

sin misión nos has dejado.

“Aleluya” los escolásticos contestaron

pues de los exámenes nos has salvado.

By Fernando Velázquez, omi