Los Dias De Los Muertos Essay, Research Paper
Los Dias De Los Muertos
The night air taints the haunted sky and the disturbance of children lasts until the following
morning. Halloween is a simple holiday that started many hundreds of years ago, but it was not
known as Halloween but “Los Dias De Los Muertos”.
Every autumn Monarch Butterflies return to Mexico for the winter protection of the trees.
The local town folk welcome back the returning butterflies, which they believe bear the spirits
of their dead relatives. The spirits are honored during Los Dias de los Muertos. Los Dias de los
Muertos translates to “the Days of the Dead”, and is traditional Mexican holiday honoring the
dead. It is celebrated every year at the same time as Halloween. Los Dias de los Muertos is not a
sad time, but instead a time of remembering and rejoicing.
The townspeople dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons and parade through the
town carrying an open coffin. The local vendors toss oranges inside as the parade makes its way
past their markets. Lucky coffins can also catch flowers, fruits, and candies.
In the homes families arrange altars with flowers, bread, fruit and candy. they also put
up pictures of the deceased family members. In the night, burning candles are lit. The candles
represent dead family members.
The next day the families travel to the cemetery. They arrive with hoes, picks and
shovels. They also carry flowers, candles, blankets, and picnic baskets. They have come to clean
the graves of their loved ones. The grave sites are weeded and the dirt is raked smooth. The
Crypts are scrubbed and swept. Colorful flowers, bread, fruit and candles are placed on the
graves. Some people bring guitars and radios to listen to. The families will spend the entire
night in the cemeteries.
In conclusion, Los Dias De Los Muertos is a very formal and festive holiday for spanish
and other cultures alike. That day is just to remember the loved ones you once had and cherish
the memories you still retain. We can all learn from the Spanish and hopefully America will
celebrate this same holiday.