The celebration of the Day of the Dead is a crucial festivity in Mexican culture, where families go to cemeteries with candles, flowers, and other decorations to honor their deceased loved ones. This tradition, linked to the festivities of All Saints and the Faithful Departed, has remained unchanged over time, although it has undergone adaptations throughout the history of Mexico.
Victor Santos Ramirez, in his text "The origin of the Day of the Dead", mentions that the popular narrative around this festivity is built on historical and cultural misunderstandings. The Day of the Dead is considered a celebration of pre-Hispanic origin, an idea that Santos Ramirez qualifies as false and a creation of a tourist idealization. From the Christian perspective, this originally pagan festivity was Christianized when the Day of All Saints was established on November 2, dedicated to those who did not attain eternal life.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) points out that the festivities that take place on November 1 and 2 have their roots in European celebrations of the Middle Ages. Despite characteristic elements of the Mexican festivity such as colorful altars, papel picado, pan de muerto, offerings, and skull candies, these evoke the pre-Hispanic legacy in Mexican culture.
The tradition of the Day of the Dead arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, shortly after the Spanish conquest, being celebrated in the first churches founded by the Franciscans in Texcoco, Tlaxcala, and Mexico City. Contrary to popular belief in Mexico, the Day of the Dead does not have a pre-Hispanic origin, nor is it the result of a syncretism between indigenous and European traditions.
In summary, the celebration of the Day of the Dead has a rich history that combines Christian elements and European traditions adapted to Mexican culture over the centuries, representing a syncretic celebration that fuses various cultural influences in homage to the deceased.
