Death as a Symbol of Life in the Day of the Dead
According to Mexican tradition, November 1st and 2nd are the days when the souls of our deceased return home, to the world of the living, to be with the family and nourish themselves with the essence of the food and offerings placed in their honor on each Day of the Dead Altar.
In this Day of the Dead/Día de Muertos celebration, death does not represent an absence, but rather a living presence; death is a symbol of life that materializes on the altar. It is a celebration of enormous popular transcendence that includes diverse philosophical and material meanings.
Day of the Dead is a tradition that survives the passage of time, that unites and integrates our community that prepares to remember and honor the LIFE of our loved ones who are no longer on this plane. United and as a family we see death as a symbol of life that is materialized in each of our colorful rituals.
The beautiful altars where families place their offerings are traditions from pre-Hispanic times. Day of the Dead is a harmonious blend of Catholic and indigenous traditions. The original Mexican peoples transferred the veneration of their dead to the Christian calendar, which coincided with the end of the corn agricultural cycle.
Build your own Day of Death/Dia de Muertos Altar
Here are some items you can’t miss.
To decorate your altar, we recommend you to always have:
Traditional Food Eaten for Day of the Dead
- Marigold flowers
- Cut paper
- Sugar skulls
- Bread for the dead
- The favorite dish of your loved one you are going to honor, don’t forget something to drink.
- Candles and incense
- Photographs of your loved ones who are no longer here.
- You can place your altar on a table.
- Color is a must!
- You can add whatever you think your loved one would love to find on their return to the world of the living!
Today We Want to Honor Those Who Gave the Gift of Life!
Today, we want to honor those members of the Latino-Hispanic community who through organ and tissue donation gave the gift of life to others in an act of immense generosity.
Organ, eye and tissue donation has healed and saved lives in our community. However, in the United States there are still more than 24,000 Latinos waiting for a transplant to save or heal their lives. Join us today in honoring the memory and lives of those who donated, while also giving hope to those who are waiting. How? By supporting this great cause, by saying Yes to organ, eye and tissue donation when you pick up or renew your driver’s license at DMV offices or Learn about Donation on our website DonateLifeColorado.org or Register Today by clicking the button below.