5 DIFFERENT FOODS FOUND IN TRADITIONAL DAY OF THE DEAD ALTARS

Easily one of the most iconic and well-known Mexican traditions is the Día de Muertos or Day of the dead, a celebration and commemoration of the lives of those who have already departed, as well as the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

This meaningful and colourful tradition takes place during the first 2 nights of November and is full of symbolisms that date back from the pre-Hispanic rituals the multiple indigenous groups celebrated before the conquest.

In general, the celebrations include different foods, lots of marigolds and other flowers, candles, incense, and altars both in churches and in households, as well as multiple processions towards local graveyards. But being that Mexico is an extense country it’s only to be expected that each region has its own ways to carry on the traditions as well as different dishes that come with it.

Here are 5 different examples of how Día de Muertos is celebrated in different regions of Mexico

PÁTZCUARO LAKE, MICHOACÁN

Located a 4-hour drive northwest from the country’s capital, lies this mysterious town with a gorgeous lake known as Patzcuaro and its famous Janitzio Island.

Legend has it that when the souls leave the body, they turn into Monarch butterflies that fly over an enchanted lake towards Janitzio island to rest.

So, every year, the ancient tale turned into a present-day tradition is re-enacted by the members of local communities to remember and celebrate the passing spirits of our loved ones.

Fishermen bring out their boats during nighttime, filled with lit candles and incense, and spread the fishing nets to mimic the wings of the monarch butterflies, as they traverse their way onto the Janitzio Island, making it a beautiful spectacle of reflections and dim lights completely unique.

Processions towards local cemeteries are also essential, as people head over to the tombs bringing flowers, candles and local dishes such as a special kind of small tamal called Corunda, made with ashes, and wrapped with the leaves from the actual corn stem in a triangular shape and are served with a mild tomato-based salsa.

MEXICO CITY

There are many ways to honour this special date in Mexico City, monumental altars in open areas such as the university and the main square in the city centre, multiple visits to different cemeteries and even floating celebrations on the colourful boats through the beautiful canals of the Xochimilco areas.

But city dwellers would mostly celebrate from their own homes, setting up altars with the traditional elements such as flowers, candles, a portrait of the departed loved ones, papel picado, fruits like sugar cane, Mexican crabapple, limes and most importantly the most traditional and widely known pan de muerto.

This classic round shaped, buttery bun, spiced with orange blossom water and decorated with a cross and sugar becomes a highly coveted pastry and can be found extensively in most bakeries around the city which makes people put their best efforts into trying as many versions as they can for the season.

The newest addition to the festivities, the monumental Catrinas parade, in which thousands of visitors paint their faces and dress up as one of the most recognizable symbols of the Día de Muertos and comes in the form of an elegant skeleton mocking the higher classes of the people of the 30’s and who were said to wear big dresses and a huge hat covered mostly in feathers.

OAXACA CITY

One of the most diverse states of the country rich in culture, foods, traditions and ingredients is also known for the many different ways they celebrate this holiday

Colourful sand murals on the big plazas’ floors, in which the sands represent the souls of the departed, as well as colourful graveyard celebrations and the multiple street festivals known as calendas:  small walking parades with different elements like a traditional band, big human shaped puppets, multiple dancers and even fireworks.

For this season, calendas change their name into muerteadas in which participants dress up as different characters representing life & death, the devil, and the elders among others.

Here in Oaxaca, also known as the land of the 7 kinds of moles, they can all be found throughout the multiple towns and altars, whether they are offered to the spirits or the living alike.