Information about the Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition celebrated on November 1 and 2 to honor the memory of the dead.
Before the Catholic Church claimed the dates of November 1 and 2 and added a day to the calendar, it was well known that the scarce occurrence during the year of the weak light of the sun and the less luminous phase of the moon exerted and continues to exert an energetic movement inward on us, who are also light.
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is a holiday that combines elements of pre-Hispanic culture and Catholicism, preserving ancient traditions and honoring loved ones who have passed away.
Due to the importance of this holiday, the Day of the Dead is one of the most significant celebrations in Mexican culture. It is celebrated throughout Mexico on November 1 and 2 and one of the most popular customs is to make an offering in their honor.
The Day of the Dead celebration is mainly a Catholic holiday, says Elsa Malvido, researcher and professor at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), because it is based on the syncretism of pre-Hispanics and Spaniards.
Hanal Pixan is a custom that dates back to before the arrival of the Spaniards, as much as the existence of Palenque, Montealban, or Jaina, a Mayan necropolis in Campeche. According to tradition, the souls of the departed wander the earth from October 31 to November 2 to experience once a year the comforts and pleasures they enjoyed during their earthly life
The table was made by the Maya during the period of colonial evangelization with branches of the X’colonché plant and the four forks were made from the wood of the kivis tree (they did not use nails, as they thought that the deceased would be hurt and would not want to approach the table if it had nails or wires).
