How To Write A Day Of The Dead Essay

Day of the Dead is a holiday which is celebrated in Mexico and begins on October 31st; the day of Halloween in the United States, and ends on November 2nd. On the Day of the Dead, families and friends come together to remember and pray for their relatives who have died. This holiday is much like Memorial Day which is celebrated in the United States. The Day of the Dead originated from traditions observed as much as 3,000 years ago. These traditions have been passed on from generation to generation until the present day. Originally, the celebrations of the Day of the Dead lasted for a whole month, starting at the beginning of August, or the ninth month on the Aztec calendar. The holiday was moved to October 31st, November 1st, and November 2nd to coincide with the Catholic festival of Allhallowtide. On October 31st, the holiday begins as people prepare for the celebrations which will occur over the next couple days. November 1st is celebrated as Dia de Los Inocentes, or “Day of the Innocents”, which celebrates and honors the children and babies which have passed away. November 2nd is Dia de Los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead”, and celebrates the adults who have died. To celebrate the Day of the Dead, people go to the cemeteries where their loved ones have been buried and decorate the graves with marigolds, which
On Memorial Day, people visit the graves of their loved ones and set aside the day to remember their family members. In my family, we also spend time with family and friends eating, playing games and talking about our ancestors. This is what Day of the Dead celebrates as well. Although many people in the United States don’t go to such lengths as the Mexican people, people in both nations use family traditions and customs to celebrate and honor the lives of their dead relatives. Both holidays are viewed as special and an important time to spend with family and