Author | Alex Woolf |
(Courtesy of Youtube)
Even though All Hallows Eve and the Day of the Dead (El Dia de Muerte) are one day apart, there is a world of difference between the two.
The Halloween we know and love today originated as a Celtic festival to ward off angry spirits by dancing around fires with exotic costumes. Though we do not partake in fire dancing rituals or casting out spirits, the day known as All Hallows Eve has become a holiday full of candy, pumpkins, and a chance to enjoy a cold October night.
How does this differ from the Day of the Dead? Mexican in origin, the holiday celebrates ancestors and loved ones who have passed on. Unlike Halloween, the South American holiday centers around family, remembrance, and love. During this day, parades fill the streets, flowers decorate the graveyards, food is in abundance, and everyone dresses in outfits that resemble the dead, such as skulls or skeletons. In front of homes are altars for the lost loved ones, usually filled with food or other items that might have held meaning during that person’s life. As a way of celebrating their journey to the next life, everyone partakes in dancing and huge meals.
So, even though the line between these two holidays can cross in regards to food and costumes, the two days hold meanings and origins that are opposite.