Honoring the dead: Festivals, feasts and offerings

Festivals of the Dead, also known as “Feasts of Ancestors” are held throughout the world to honor the deceased. The events occur in August, September, October and November.

The origins of the festivals go back more than 3,000 years to the rituals of honoring the dead in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The people there believed that upon dying a person traveled to Chicuna Mictlan (the land of the Dead). The dead must pass through nine challenges before their’ soul can finally reach Mictlan (the final resting place).

In Nahua (Middle American Indian of central Mexico) rituals, these traditional festivals are held during August of each year, with family gathering and providing food, water and tools to aid the deceased in completing the journey to the final resting place.

The Festival of the Dead often lasts up to three days, held usually at the end of October or beginning of November.

In Mexico, The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos) is when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives. This holiday is being celebrated each year from Oct. 31 – Nov. 2.

Those celebrating believe that the border between the spirit world and the dead is open. During this time, the dead will return to the living world to feast, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones.

The living honor the dead by making the deceased’s favorite foods and other offerings at gravesites or the ofrendas (altars) built in their homes.

During the Day of the Dead festivities, people have been known to be wear skulls masks and eat sugar candy molded into skulls shapes.

While Oct. 31 is Halloween, Nov. 1 is el Dia de los Inocentes (the day of the children and All Saints Day). Nov. 2 is the Day of the Dead. According to traditions the gates of heaven are open at midnight on Oct. 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours and the same for adults on Nov. 2.