No, the Day of the Dead Isn’t “Mexican Halloween.”

October 15, 2024

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This time of year, Halloween decorations are everywhere, including at local restaurants. However, the decorations in Mexican restaurants are often images and designs that we associate with Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead in English. Many people refer to the Day of the Dead as “Mexican Halloween,” but they really are pretty different holidays and celebrations. First of all, the Day of the Dead is November 2nd instead of October 31st.

 

We’re all about tradition at Los Reyes Street Tacos! Join us to learn a little bit about why Mexican restaurants are decorated for Día de los Muertos this time of year.

 

A Convergence of Cultural Influences

The traditions associated with the Day of the Dead go back 3,000 years and begin with pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. As in many ancient cultures, the indigenous people of what is now Mexico believed that the dead had to complete a journey to the afterlife. When the Spaniards and other Europeans came to the Americas, native traditions combined with Catholic rituals and festivals. In the case of the Day of the Dead, it converged with All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween) on October 31st and All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1st and 2nd, respectively.

 

Honoring the Dead

The reason these holidays and traditions came together is that they both honor the dead. In the Catholic tradition, these days are set aside to pray for and remember the dead. According to the traditions of Día de los Muertos, the connection to the dead on these days is more immediate. For a short time, the barriers between the spiritual world and the physical world dissolve, and the souls of the dead are briefly allowed to return to the land of the living. They eat, drink, dance, and play music with their living relatives. To join in on the celebration, the living family members bring their dead loved ones’ favorite foods and other gifts to gravesites or the family shrines in their homes. It is also common to decorate the graves with candles and bright marigold flowers.

 

Evolving Traditions

Although these traditions have existed for thousands of years, they are still evolving. A recent example is the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. You may be surprised to learn the first one was held in 2016. Why? It was inspired by the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre, which featured a Day of the Dead parade. In 2017, many US cities with large Mexican-American populations also started holding parades for the Day of the Dead. These cities include Chicago, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Fort Lauderdale.

 

Celebrate Mexican culture and heritage this fall at your favorite restaurants! Our team at Los Reyes is excited to share our traditions and our food with you!