What is Day of the Dead?
Many of our guests at Hotel Mansión Iturbe ask the same question, “What is Day (and Night) of the Dead?”
Well, it so happens that one of the most
anticipated Mexican celebrations is upon us: Known elsewhere as All
Saints’ Day, Day of the Faithful Dead, one of the best places to celebrate
it is in Michoacán, and more specifically the region around Lake Pátzcuaro. It’s an exceptional and unforgettable experience for those
fortunate enough to be here during this particular time of year.
 |
| Day of the Dead in Tzintzuntzan at Lake Patzcuaro Region |
Night of the Dead is the “Feast of The Spirits” (in Purépecha Animecheri K'Uninchekua). This indigenous festival is dedicated to the dearly departed, and has been declared by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
 |
| Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico |
The Night of the Dead holiday is an ancestral ritual in Pátzcuaro and the Lake Region. Of great significance to its inhabitants, it is the one day of the year when the spirits of their deceased return and the inhabitants come to the cemeteries to commune with them. It is a holiday family celebration, where the living gather to be with their dead and remember them.
Day of the Dead in Jantzio at Lake Patzcuaro
As dusk approaches, there are ever more
candles lit (helping the deceased find their way), and more and more people
arrive; many of them will spend the entire night in the cemetery, “sharing”
food and drink with their departed until well after dawn.
 |
| Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico |
The next day, Day of the Dead, you
will find people, surrounded by bright orange marigolds – a traditional
signature of Day of the Dead – gradually extinguishing candles, and the
remnants of meals partaken with the deceased. Most of the gravesites will
have been spruced up by the relatives prior to their visit.
 |
| Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico |
The “ofrenda” is
a very common addition to this celebration, and is typically installed on or
before the Night of the Dead, and will remain in place for some
days. Generally, it is an “offering” to a particular deceased on a
table. A photo of the individual will be prominently displayed, plus
physical things that he or she enjoyed in life, including favorite foods,
sweets, and beverages – and perhaps even a vice here and there, such as some
playing cards and a pack of cigarettes! After all, the spirit of the
deceased will soon arrive and deserves to enjoy some of the things he or she
held dear.
 |
| Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico |
If you participate in any of these celebrations, especially at the
cemeteries, remember that they are rituals that are held in
the highest degree of solemnity by the celebrants, and that we must respect
these ancient and representative Mexican traditions.
 |
| Day of the Dead Ofrenda in honor of Doña Francisca de Iturbe at Mansion Iturbe in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico |
*Text, pictures and pictures property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings that we hope will be useful for your next visit to our colonial town in México.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
Hotel Mansión Iturbe
Portal Morelos 59
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
61600 Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
México
Tel: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342 3628
Fax: +52(434) 342 3627
Toll Free fax number USA & CANADA: 1-866 678 6102
CODIGOS GDS
| |
| Amadeus: | ON MLMMAN |
| Sabre: | ON |
Entradas
Comentarios