What I Learned During Day of the Dead

Every year, I celebrate aging with an adventure. To celebrate turning 43, my goal was to travel to Tanzania and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro but my wallet said no. I had to redirect. This is how I ended up trading in my usual mountain hiking adventure for a cultural one instead. And I checked an item off of my bucket list along the way. I headed to Mexico City to celebrate Dia de Muertos AKA Day of the Dead. 

My interest in Day of the Dead goes back as far as I can remember. The first time I recall seeing Dia De Muertos art was in the Art Institute in Chicago. I loved it and was fascinated by the happy skeletons and colorful theme. My dad (who is Mexican) explained that the dead are both remembered and celebrated in Mexico through the holiday of Day of the Dead. I immediately loved this concept. The idea that death could be embraced as part of the life cycle and that those we have lost can be celebrated instead of only remembered with grief seemed so healthy. I still think it does.

So, while this excursion was no Kilimanjaro, it was a celebration of a different kind that would connect me with my family's heritage. Here are three things I learned from my trip to celebrate Day of the Dead: 

It's Bigger Than Halloween

Make no mistake, Dia De Muertos is not Mexican Halloween. But with otherworldy themes and the timing so close, comparisons are out there. It is worth noting how much bigger the Day of the Dead celebration is compared to American Halloween! While it is traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, there are also celebrations on other days leading up to those dates. There is even a 

day specifically for celebrating our pets who have passed on! There are variations in how the holiday is celebrated in different parts of Mexico, as well. Some of the staple elements you will find are the ofrendas, altars to remember our loved ones often decorated with flowers and photos, pan de muerto and sugar skull candy both on altars and to be consumed by the living and calaveras everywhere! You've never seen so many happy skullys! Gorgeous marigolds are also to be found everywhere, as their fragrance is supposed to lead the dead back home.

The sheer number of people who crowd the streets of Mexico City for this celebration, which is estimated to be literally millions, and their commitment to dress the part and to show up on several days of celebrations is what leads me to say that Halloween has nothing on Day of the Dead. 

Me and my poquito amigo, Jorge

 

Its Meaning Is Deep

While the colorful artwork and smiling skeletons may look fun (and they are) this celebration is deeply meaningful to many locals. My group visited a cemetery in Tlahuac where flowers and candles covered every inch of the graveyard. Our guide told us that many families we saw would be there several days as they cleaned the crypts of their loved ones, decorated them, ate, drank and spent time in remembrance. It had the energy of a festival, despite being a burial ground. I can't help but think that it might feel less lonely to mourn your lost loved ones when you're surrounded by others who are doing the same.

Tlahuac

 

Mexico City Has Great Energy

As a solo female traveler, when I mentioned going to Mexico, people had things to say about safety. And, to be fair, any major city will have parts that are less safe and tourist attractions also attract pickpockets and the like. That being said, I did not feel unsafe in Mexico City. I walked around the neighborhood that surrounded my hotel by myself the day before I met my group and it was lovely. As a group, we stayed in tourist areas (we were tourists, after all), and did just fine. I would definitely return solo and simply stay in the popular spots. There is honestly so much to see there that another trip is absolutely necessary and I'm interested to see how it all looks without the Dia De Muertos crowds.

 

If you're thinking of going to Mexico City and interested in the Dia De Muertos celebration, I cannot recommend it enough! I am even thinking that next year, I may make my own ofrenda to honor the loved ones I have lost, to celebrate them here in the land of the living.  

Teotihuacan