Mexico Celebrates Life
Mexico celebrates a yearly tradition called Day of the Dead during the last days of October and the first days of November. Due to the duration of this festivity and the way people get involved it has been called "The Cult of Death."
As in many Latin American countries, Mexico commemorates the Day of the Dead or All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. The legacy of past civilizations is graphically manifested on this occasion through people’s beliefs that death is a transition from one life to another in different levels where communication exists between the living and the dead. This communication takes place once a year throughout the country. Differing from the Roman Catholic imposed ritual to commemorate All Souls’ Day, which is observed in many countries, the custom established by pre-colonial Mexican civilizations become a ceremony where indigenous beliefs blended with Catholic beliefs. Therefore, the Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colorful celebration where death takes a lively, friendly expression. 
Indigenous people believed that souls did not die, that they continued living in Mictlan, a special place to rest. In this place, the spirits rest until the day they could return to their homes to visit their relatives. Before the Spaniards arrived, they celebrated the return of the souls between the months of July and August. Once arrived, the Spaniards changed the festivities to November 2nd to coincide with All Souls’ Day of the Catholic Church. Presently, two celebrations honoring the memory of loved ones who have died take place: On November 1st, the souls of the children are honored with special designs in the altars, using color white on flowers and candles. On November 2nd the souls of the adults are remembered with a variety of rituals, according to the different states of the Mexican republic. The celebrations of Day of the Dead or All Souls Day are referred to differently in some of the states. For example in ... continue reading part 2>
PASIÓN POR LA VIDA DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS EN MÉXICO
Una vez al año conviven en México los vivos con los muertos. Inspirados por la creencia que la muerte es una transición de una vida a la otra, celebran durante los últimos días de octubre y los primeros días de noviembre, el reencuentro con el recuerdo de sus seres queridos. La ocasión: el Día de los Muertos. 
A diferencia del ritual católico establecido para conmemorar el ampliamente celebrado Día de Todos los Santos, la costumbre que establecieron las culturas mexicanas pre-coloniales intercala las creencias indígenas con las católicas. Es una celebración alegre y colorida en la que la muerte asume una expresión vivaz y amistosa. Los pueblos prehispánicos creían que las almas no morían, que seguían viviendo en un lugar especial llamado Mictlán. Allí descansaban hasta el día en el que podían volver a sus hogares a visitar a su familia. 
Antes de la llegada de los españoles, los nativos celebraban la regreso de las almas entre los meses de julio y agosto. Los españoles cambiaron las festividades al 2 de noviembre, para coincidir con el Día de Todos los Santos de la Iglesia Católica. En la actualidad se realizan dos celebraciones para honrar la memoria de los difuntos amados. El primero de noviembre se honran las almas de los niños con diseños especiales en los altares, implementando el color blanco en las flores y las velas. El dos de noviembre se recuerda las almas de los adultos con una variedad de rituales. 
El Día de los Muertos o el Día de Todos los Santos, se denomina de manera distinta en algunos de los estados. Por ejemplo, en Yucatán se conoce como Hanal Pixán, o el paso de las almas sobre la esencia de los alimentos. En las alturas de Michoacán, se conoce como Jimbanqua, o la festividad que honra con flores a las personas que ese año fallecieron. En San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo y en el sur de Oaxaca se conoce como Xantolo. Es una tradición ancestral que, intercalada con el catolicismo, resultó en un momento y espacio especiales para celebrar la vida y el legado de los seres queridos, ofreciéndoles en un altar la fragancia de las flores, la luz de las velas, el aroma de la comida y la solemnidad de las oraciones.
CBS 5 Interview with Mary Andrade
Mary Andrade shares her knowledge about the Day of the Dead Celebration in Mexico with CBS 5 / KPIX TV in San Francisco, CA. This interview is part of the "Hispanic Heritage Month" and featured by CBS 5. To view the interview please follow this link (note that it starts with a short commercial) http://cbs5.com/video/?id=39318@kpix.dayport.com To view the "Hispanic Heritage Month" spot trailer please follow this url: http://cbs5.com/video/?id=74203@kpix.dayport.com To learn how Hispanic Heritage Diversity is being celebrated in the San Francisco Bay Area please follow these two links: http://cbs5.com/community/Celebrate.Hispanic.Heritage.2.816365.html http://cwbayarea.com/community/kbcw.community.hispanic.2.810161.html
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