Dia de Muertos, or “Day of the Dead” in English, is one of my favorite Mexican holidays! In the United States, I always enjoyed the excitement of Halloween: The haunted houses, the fun and spooky costumes and of course all of the delicious candy you can eat! But as soon as I moved to Mérida, coworkers, strangers and friends alike raved about the tradition that happens during the same time of the year - Dia de Muertos and Hanal Pixán.
Dia de Muertos is a multi-day holiday where family and friends pray for, remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away. In Mexican culture, death is viewed as a natural part of the human cycle. Mexicans view it not as a day of sadness but as a day of celebration because their loved ones awaken and celebrate with them. Similar to Dia de Muertos, people of the Yucatec Maya ethnicity practice Hanal Pixán which means "food for the soul" in the Maya language. For both traditions (which are closely intertwined) altars are constructed and decorated with food, drinks, candies and candles to help their loved ones to pass through to the living world and celebrate with their family.
