Day Of The Dead

When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, they witnessed and learned about the Día de Los Muertos ritual. It was started by the Aztecs some 3,000 years ago and was viewed by the Spanish as sacrilegious. But the festival couldn’t be quashed.

Not only did the festival survive, it thrived, moving from southern Mexico and spreading north. It also merged with elements of Christianity. It was originally celebrated in the summer, but it was later moved to November 1 and 2 to coincide with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

La Catrina wasn’t always the face of this celebration. That honour belongs to Mictēcacihuātl, the queen of the Aztec underworld of Chicunamictlan. Her role in ancient Aztec culture was to watch over the bones of the dead, and her presence was extremely important during any recognition of those who had passed on.

The belief amongst the Mesoamericans was that the dead makes a journey that descends nine levels to the depths of Chicunamictlan. Their view of death was not a mournful one. They saw death as a part of the cycle of life and celebrated the departed by leaving offerings on makeshift altars, or “ofrendas”, that would assist them in their onward trials.