While Halloween today has much to do with scary costumes and trick-or-treating, the Day of the Dead is a joyous occasion as families reunite to honour and remember loved ones who have passed on. During this time, it is believed that the spirits of the dead return to life to meet with their families. The day fuses the local beliefs with Catholic processions and celebrations. This gives the ritual a vibrant and symbolic form in which death is honoured as part of life's cycle. So let's explore with The Fancy Dress Shop how The Day of the Dead is celebrated around the world, especially in the UK.
The History Of The Day Of The Dead Celebrations
The Day of the Dead is practiced throughout Mexico and even in other parts of Latin America, but with many diverse regional customs or traditions. However, there are also some similarities across the board.
One of the most visible images of this holiday is that of the ofrenda, literally a family-construction altar for paying homage to their dead relatives. The altars are decorated with photographs of whom they consider to have died, Hanging Skeletons, candles, marigold flowers, food offerings, and personal belongings of those whom the deceased loved to engage in while they were living. The flower marigold, called cempasuchil, is believed to attract by its bright colour and strong scent, which symbolise the inviting characteristic.
Calaveras, or sugar skulls, another basic element of the celebration, have been assigned to the decoration of the ofrenda or have even been used as presents. Skulls are almost always associated with death, yet they also symbolise the fun, uninhibited, and matter-of-fact way Mexicans encounter death. In addition to domestic cleaning, families also cook traditional dishes: among the most typical is pan de muerto, a sweet bread that can only be baked this time of the year, and tamales, which are divided among family and friends.
Of course, for the Day of the Dead, families gather in cemeteries to clean and decorate their relatives' graves. The celebration offers the family members the chance to reminisce over the dead, thus creating continuity as well as connection between generations through remembrance and storytelling.
International Impact And Contemporary Interpretations
Even though the Day of the Dead originated in Mexico, the holiday gained international fame in recent times. Its very striking images have captured the imagination of many: painted skulls, colourful altars, and festive parades. It has also taken quite a grip on the United Kingdom, where large numbers of Mexicans live, and public events, parades, altars, and cultural programs are put on in cities like Manchester and others. Through its popularity, it has enabled people outside of Mexico to gain and appreciate the meaning behind the holiday and focus on family, memory, and the celebration of life. The Day of the Dead is more than just a festive, colourful day, but a sacred ritual with deep undertones of culture and spirituality. It should be observed from its origins if it is to be revered with respect and understanding.
The Future Of The Day Of The Dead
What the Day of the Dead does is provide an excellent reminder of the connections between the living and the dead, but also family, memory, and tradition. The holiday may grow and change with new interpretations of culture, but at its core, nothing is untouched and offers a unique way in which we approach and understand life and death.
Types Of Costumes For Day Of The Dead Celebrations
For the festival celebrants of the Day of the Dead, whether here in Mexico or elsewhere in the world especially in Uk dressing up is a big part. The clothing they wear during the celebration is mainly associated with themes of death, memory, and even celebration. Some of the most popular kinds of clothing used in Day of the Dead celebrations include:
Traditional Mexican Attire
Many dress in old-school Mexican to pay their respects to their rich culture on the Day of the Dead. Traditional dresses such as the huipiles are the colours of the rainbow and are impressively embroidered; often rebozos are bright-coloured. The charro suit or the traditional mariachi outfit supported with very expensive hats is, of course, typical among males. Marigold flowers, along with other symbolic adornments, often form the decoration.
Catrina Costumes
Probably the most iconic image is La Catrina: a skeletal figure dressed in fine attire, originally by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada at the beginning of the 20th century. And so, through the years, La Catrina has become a symbol of the holiday itself; she is a representative figure that symbolises blending life and death. Most women during the Day of the Dead celebrations don a La Catrina dress: long, elaborate dresses, wide-brimmed hats, and intricate face paint resembling a skull. Many often include colourful patterns and flowers within the makeup, further explaining its nature.
Sugar Skull Makeup and Costume
Most people will opt for Calavera make-up, popularly known as Sugar Skull. These are very detailed and resemble decorated sugar skulls which have been placed upon ofrendas. The nature of the make-up available can be combined with a collection of costumes; this includes Swing Dress, 'traditional Mexican clothes' and 'modern.'