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| El Loco - Day Of The Dead Altar |
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| El Loco Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls |
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| El Loco Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls |
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Mexican Holiday “Day of the Dead”:
The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Saints-All Souls' Day) is a holiday in Mexico (the first and second of November) that belongs to the dead. According to traditional belief, the deceased have divine permission to visit friends and relatives on earth, and to share in the pleasures of the living. The Day of the Dead is a beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their loved ones and relatives that have died.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. The death of the individual is seen as a journey, for which numerous offerings are needed. Life is looked at as a fleeting moment – a dream - from which death awakens us. Instead of fearing death, they embrace it.
In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.
In keeping with tradition, El Loco yearly erects an altar honoring the deceased, using colorfully decorated sugar skulls, flowers, candles, and pictures and momentos of the departed, both human and pets, with some of their favorite foods and beverages. Guests can bring photos or other objects meant to honor their deceased loved ones, and we encourage lively discussion and honoring of that person. The Day of the Dead is a fun holiday, in no way macabre. We also honor many of those in the public eye who have passed away in the last year. We hope to see you here!
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