The first days of November see Mexico celebrating perhaps its most famous festival, Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead. Due to their proximity in the calendar and similarity of theme, it could be easy to view this as simply Mexico’s take on Halloween, however this would do a disservice to a distinct festival, with its own rich traditions and complex history.

While both events are fusions of old and new world traditions and of religious and secular influences, the resulting tones are very different. In much of the world Halloween has moved away from its Celtic pagan and religious roots, and become something of a secular celebration of all things scary and spooky. Day of the Dead meanwhile, has a more serious feel. Despite the associated traditions varying across Mexico, the festival is a time to commemorate and reconnect with loved ones who have passed on. The days are said to be those in which the barrier between the afterlife and the mortal world allow the passage of souls, who return to visit their living families. This does not mean the occasion is necessarily somber or mournful and is largely seen as a happy time to celebrate the lives of the deceased. It does not, however, share the somewhat consumerist party feel that is a feature of modern-day Halloween.

The History and Evolution of El Día de Muertos

The history and evolution of Day of the Dead is a controversial subject, with academics tending to disagree with the popularized view of the event as a blend of Aztec (and other Mesoamerican) traditions with the imported Catholic belief system. They suggest instead that the festival is almost exclusively European Catholic in origin, while conceding that it has taken on a uniquely Mexican flavor, in part due to successive government’s need to reinforce a sense of Mexican identity. Traditionalists will however point to evidence of death and afterlife-related festivals in the archaeological records of the Aztecs, Toltecs and other Mesoamerican peoples as proof that Día de Muertos has roots deep into Mexico’s history. One connection that is commonly asserted is with the rituals associated with the Aztec goddess, Mictecacihuatl, who was one of the deities of death and the underworld/afterlife. 

The Catholic influences on what is still largely a religious holiday are very evident. In homes all over Mexico, altars are adorned with not only pictures of deceased relatives and items associated with them, but also with religious iconography. This includes the traditional cross made of salt, intended to help loved ones’ spirits remain whole when crossing from the afterlife to visit the living. Pictures of saints, and velas or candles bearing their names and likeness are also featured, as it is the saints who are said to act as the guides for the spirits on their annual journey. In some regions these items are instead taken to church cemeteries and the vigil and spiritual communion is held at the site of the loved one’s burial.

As the power of the Catholic Church has waned in Mexico, secular elements have become entwined with the religious in the modern Day of the Dead. For example, one of the most recognizable symbols of the festival is the Calvera de Catrina, the striking symbolized female painted skull, which has its origins in left-wing politics. The image originates with an early twentieth century satirical cartoon by José Guadalupe Posada, which was intended to criticize the wealthy and their perceived embrace of European ways and fashion. Other traditions such as providing the deceased’s favorite dishes, special festive sweet breads known as pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and candied skulls, also have little to do with Catholic religious influence on the occasion. Various national presidents have also sought to emphasize the Mexican origins of the event over the Catholic, with acts such as Benito Juárez’s banning of family pantheon altars from churches, forcing them into homes and cemeteries. Modern day parades, such as those held in Mexico City, are also a new invention seeking to capitalize on strong global interest in the Indigenous elements of the festivities.

The History and Evolution of Halloween

Halloween’s evolution is also marked by religious influence on pre-existing traditions, with its roots lying in the Celtic fringes of the British Isles. Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Mann and Cornwall had their own variations of a pagan festival known as Samhain, which also marked the time of year when the veil between the corporeal world and the afterlife was at its thinnest. From early texts it seems that the traditions associated with the festival were both welcoming to the friendly spirits of relatives and designed to ward off unfriendly supernatural elements.  

In later years, after the spread of Christianity and the authority of the Catholic church, Samhain was absorbed into the religious calendar and became All Hallow’s Eve, taking place before All Saints Day on November 1. It marked the beginning of Allhallowtide, a time to remember the dead and particularly departed saints. Elements of the pagan traditions remained strong in Celtic regions though, and could be also found in many other parts of Britain. Protection against the supernatural was considered a very real issue in Europe through the Middle Ages, with witches, devils and numerous other spiritual beings featuring heavily in cultural artifacts and historical documents.

This belief in the threat of the supernatural and the blended tradition of Samhain and All Hallow’s Eve made its way across the Atlantic to the modern-day US with European settlers. Over the course of centuries, the customs adapted to the new world, with traditions like the Jack-o'-lantern, a Celtic ward against evil spirits made up of a lit candle inside a carved turnip, changing form to the now ubiquitous pumpkin. 

The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have seen the religious elements of the festival fade away and be superseded by the now popular commercialized, and largely secular, mixture of dark motifs, supernatural themed costumes and candy consumption. The name All Hallow’s Eve was simplified to Allhalloween and then simply Halloween. This modern version, while most visibly popular in the US, has also been reexported back to Britain, Europe and beyond.

Modern Day

While the modern-day versions of the two events are very different, it is striking how similar the underlying concept is, with both focused around a time of connection between this world and the spiritual. In many ways the manner in which they have evolved and are now celebrated are reflections of their respective cultures. Día de Muertos still has a strong traditionalist religious influence and family focus, yet still displays the color, flair, humor and celebration of life that are such big parts of Mexican culture. Meanwhile Halloween has retained the symbolism of the supernatural, yet become more of an opportunity to revel in the fun of the spookier elements of pop-culture and display individual creativity in costumes and decoration.

If you want to learn more about Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, Janal Pixan, the similar month-long Maya event, or even just how to make the delicious pan de muerto, click on the links to visit our blogs and videos. 

If you are interested in experiencing Day of the Dead in person, an immersion experience here at Na’atik is one of the best ways to share in this special occasion. If you would like to know more, visit our Spanish or Maya program pages or contact us on say@naatikmexico.org.