While
Halloween is strictly a major celebration in North America, Los Dias De Los Muertos, or The
Days of the Dead is popular in many parts of the world. The Day of the Dead is celebrated typically on November 1 (
All Saints' Day) and November 2 (
All Souls' Day). The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in a lesser extent in Latin American countries. For example, it is a public holiday in Brazil, when people visit churches and cemeteries. This holiday is also observed in the Philippines. In the United States, The Day of the Dead is also observed as a holiday among Mexican-American communities. So, while majority of America observes Halloween on October 31st night, the Hispanic population considers The Day of the Dead as a special event honoring the dead. In Mexico it is a traditional holiday. Los Dias de los Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time of remembering and rejoicing.
Halloween and Day of the Dead in much similar because people dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons, and parade through the town carrying an open coffin. Vendors toss oranges inside the coffin, as an offering to the “corpse”. Families prepare an altar decorated with flowers, bread, fruits and candy. Pictures of deceased family members are kept on that altar. In late afternoon, candles are lit, as to remember the departed souls. Just as in the United States, there are Halloween special recipes and treats, Day of the Dead is also celebrated with unique and weird recipes like chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, white chocolate skeletons, milk chocolate bones. Much similar to Halloween gifts are Day of the Dead gifts and decorations. There are skeleton figurines, skeletal brides, evil dolls, spirit and ghost figures, are quite popular gift and home décor items. November 1st and 2nd can be a wonderful time to visit Mexico, as you will get to see a celebration full of flowers and chocolates. People parade through the streets dressed as skeletons and ghosts and candles are meant to burn all night. Theirs is a culture which believes in a vibrant afterlife and remembers the departed ones with joy!
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