1 and 2 of November

In Dos Palmas, we celebrate The Day of all Saints, ‘ dia de muertos” the community invites us to learn about their unique traditions and typical ceremonies, letting us get in touch with our ancestress and beloved ones that had passed away to the other life.

The Day of all Saints, ‘ dia de muertos”

This ritual is no totally catholic, its a mixture with the Catholic date of all saints day, 2 of November and some prehispanic ceremonies. Being in most of the Mexican culture Catholicism the strongest of beliefs, they start this day praying for their loved ones that had passed away and drinking with them for their memories.

IN past times the belief was that our dead ones had to go through a long trip to get to their final journey and so we find in the graveyards that families leave food and drink for their beloved ones.

This is the beginning of this actual tradition of all saints day, a mixture of Catholic and prehispanic celebrations.

The actual spirit of the offerings is a belief that in that day our passed ones return to be with us and the things that are brought to his grave are the things he liked when he was living.

For this offering they put inside the house of the family a table and a picture of the loved one, it can also be a skeleton made of paper machie or clay. In this same table the family collocate personal objects like a hat, a guitar or anything that indicates the hobbies or daily activities of their dead one.

To finish with the offering the family cocks the food that their dead one used to like and they enjoy make a party in front of this altar, eating and drinking with the spirit that visits them that night and the love that they nourish each time they go on with this celebration.

In this celebration the “ Xempaxochitl” flower is very common , its an orange flower that is used for crowns and gurnards. Its very representative in this season of the year.

As well as the flowers and the altar there is a special bread called bread of dead , its a sweet bread that is made of flour, eggs and sugar, and its through the month of November that you can find this kind of bread in the bakery.

Also the Mexican incense called copal, that gives a perfume that is said it gives the souls of that night a guide to find their ways.