Day of the Dead, Mexico

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From the pictures I have included above and from the title itself I guess you can tell what am I going to share about today.

Day of the Dead or known as Dia de los Muertos by the Mexican is an interesting holiday celebrated in central and southern of Mexico during the chilly days of 1st and 2nd November. The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexcico can be tracked back to a pre-Columbian past. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors had been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500-3000 years.

The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, around the beginning of August and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivies were dedicated to the goddess known as the "Lady of the Dead", corresponding to the modern Catrina.

The Mexican believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of all children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1 mainly as Dia de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) and also as Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels). On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities have been prepared for them. On the afternoon of November 2, the festivities are taken to the cemetery. People will clean tombs, play cards, listen to the village band and reminisce about their loved ones.

Day of the Dead is a very expensive holiday for these self-sufficient, rural based and indigenous families. Many spend over two month's income to honor their dead relatives. The believe that the happy spirits will provide protection, good luck and wisdom to their families.