Day of the Dead

Is not exactly a festival, but is similar as it involves all the society towards a celebration, in this case is to venerate and welcome those persons who already passed away to another dimension and only comes back during this days.

The first of November is the celebration of the dead children and the second day is for all the grownups. Tradition says that the Monarch Butterfly is the soul of those persons and normally arrives to Mexico on the first days of November, the color of the wings: orange and black is the theme for the festivities as also the traditional flower of the day is also orange, an interesting coincidence, same as pumpkins.

In contrast with the celebration of Halloween this date is not to scare people or ask for trick or treat, unfortunately a lot of the tradition is being lost lately due to the globalization. The relation of the Day of the Death and the living people is one of rendezvous, the dead come on this day to visit and spend some time with their families.

The "Ofrenda" (offering) is setup a the tomb or at the house in front of a picture of the loved one. The offering involves all the food and drinks that the deceased one loved, sometimes there are even music bands or a mariachi playing for several hours. Is a time of rejoicement, and remembrance.

Each beginning of November the cemeteries get visited by large crowds, all the people attend to wash and repair the tombs of their loved ones. It almost seems like a picnic as people that still follows the tradition bring food and drinks to honor the departed ones. In some cases the even hire a mariachi band or a guitar trio to play the song that the deceased one loved to listen.

In Mexico the flowers are cheaper than in the USA but on this season the prices skyrocket as the demand is really high, but even then flowers are purchased by the dozen or larger packages in order to decorate the tombs in singular and beautiful patterns. The main flower used is the Cempazuchitl (marygold) which is seasonal and more abundant at this time of the year. It posses a special symbolism as the ancient Aztecs and central cultures called it the "twenty flowers one", and also with the Monarch butterflies (which are also orange) which are related it with the souls of the Dead ones.

The Fire Department is really loved in Mexico City as the firefighters literally risk their lives every day and they earn a very low wage. Even the equipment they posses is not top of the line and that increases the merit of the brave firefighters.