When you think of the art and design involved in Mexican culture, the Dead of the Dead, along with the work of Frida Kahlo, is inevitably what springs to mind. Dia de los Muertos is a holiday that takes place at the end of October and the start of November, in keeping with Halloween traditions elsewhere. It is a time when people pay respect to deceased friends and family, and it is now one of the most spectacular times to visit the country for these celebrations.
Origins of Day of the Dead
The day has its origins thousands of years ago, with the Aztec, Toltec and Nahua people. Today's celebration mixes it with some Catholic history and calendar changes that follow the fall harvest. It is a day when the dead come back to the realm of the living to visit, and small ofrenda-style altars are built to welcome them. Originally, it was a small, three-day festival in which families visited the graves of deceased loved ones and built these small shrines. The famous sugar skull, known as La Calavera Catrina, is one icon synonymous with the day and has become a symbol of the country's cultural heritage.
Day of the Dead in Entertainment
In the media, the Day of the Dead has been taken up by numerous outlets. One of the most memorable movie scenes featuring it was in the James Bond movie Spectre. The famous silver screen spy took part in a huge Day of the Dead parade while pursuing his enemy. In a stark black and white outfit, Bond stood out against the backdrop of colour and vibrancy. Oddly, these occasions were not how Day of the Dead has traditionally been celebrated. Yet this scene caused Mexicans to spill out onto the street and create huge parades in homage. Even slot game hybrid Slingo Bingo has used the idea in titles like Day of the Dab, a ‘dabber’ being a unique type of pen used in Britain for marking off the numbers on bingo cards. Possibly one of the most graphically striking games in the whole Slingo catalogue, it involves spinning reels to get numbers and symbols that cross off sections of your bingo card, with patterns resulting in prizes.
When to Visit
The end of October and the start of November make a great fall getaway. Flights that are direct operate from many UK airports, from major carriers like British Airways. Mexico City hosts the grand parade, and this is often the weekend before the Day of the Dead. Your costume can be as vibrant and extravagant as you want. It does not all have to be about skeletons, either, with many people choosing nature and animal ideas.
Yet different areas celebrate in different ways. For example, in Pátzcuaro, local tribes gather on a lake, rowing with candles to an all-night island vigil. Venturing to some of these can be just as rewarding and fulfilling.
