Dia de Muertos, the Day of the Dead has been a Mexican tradition, dating back past the pre-Columbian era. The Day of the Dead has evolved from an ancient Pre-Hispanic culture to include traditional catholic elements. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday honoring and celebrate love ones who have passed on. Over the years, the “Day of the Dead†has become more known and popularized through Halloween costumes such as the famous “Catrinas†and movies like “The Book of Lifeâ€.
Day of the Dead takes place on November 1st and 2nd, the days marked by the Catholic Church to celebrate the memory of All Saints and All Souls. The Day of the Dead celebration begins in the morning with the ringing of church bells and the practice of certain rites, such as decorating tombs and making shrines.
DÃa de Muertos: The Catrina
The famous drawing La Calavera Catrina, the Elegant Skull was created in 1910 by Jose Guadalupe Posada, a famous printmaker. La Calavera Catrina depicts a female skeleton dressed only in an upper class European hat. Posada drew La Calavera Catrina as a satirical portrait of those wishing to adopt aristocratic European traditions during the pre-revolutionary era. Posada’s image of the female skeleton is widely associated with the Day of the Dead and Catrinas have become the icon of the Mexican DÃa de Muertos.
Top Mexico Real Estate has included Catrinas in their celebration. In celebration of the Day of the Dead, on Friday night October 31st Top Mexico Real Estate will be on 5th avenue in Playa del Carmen with handmade Catrina puppets designed and created by Universidad Riviera Maya and the Top Mexico Real Estate Marketing team. So come celebrate Dia de los Muertos with us and get a once in a lifetime photo taken with these one of a kind as Catrinas they parade down 5th avenue.
DÃa de Muertos: The Shrine
The Shrine is fundamental in the celebration of Day of the Dead. Mourners hold the belief that the spirit of their dead return from the underworld to live with the family that day.
The altar, is generally placed on a table or shelf; the most common are the shrines of two levels or three levels, representing heaven and earth and purgatory. Another traditions have altars with seven levels symbolize the steps necessary to get to heaven, this is considered the most traditional shrine.
- First Level: The image of a saint, you can pick a saint the deceased were particularly devoted to, or the patron saint of their country or city, etc.
- Second Level: This is for the souls in purgatory; to get permission to get out for that day.
- Third level: Use of salt, which symbolizes the purification of the spirit for children placed in purgatory.
- Fourth Level: bread, offered as food for the souls that pass there.
- Fifth level: Preferred food, fruits and beverage of the deceased.
- Sixth level: photographs of deceased family members, friends, etc.
- Seventh level: a cross formed by seeds or fruits such as hawthorn and lime is placed.
Elements to Decorate Your Shrine
Copal and incense: Copal is a prehispanic element that cleanses and purifies the energy of a place and of those who use it; incense Hallows environment.
Candles: They are considered as a guiding light in this world. The candles can be placed according to the cardinal points, and extend candles as a path to get to the altar.
Flowers: The marigold flower is believed to guide the spirits into this world, with its smell.
Calaveras: The skulls are distributed around the altar and can be made of sugar, clay or plaster, with colorful ornaments; are considered an allusion to death.
Alcoholic beverages: Traditionally it would be Tequila, Mezcal or Pulque; but in general whatever the deceased preferred like bottles of coke, juice or tea.
Mexico is a country full of colorful traditions such as Day of the dead. Come and celebrate with us and the Catrina’s on 5th avenue this Friday night. See you there!
Now if you have any question about this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.
And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE…
We make it happen!
We would like to thank Papaya 15 for sponsoring this blog. Papaya 15 is a new development in Downtown Playa del Carmen. To learn more about Papaya 15, please click here.