Why Is Day Of The Dead Important

Day of the Dead is a very important Hispanic holiday, in fact, it is one of the biggest of all the Hispanic holidays and most important. Day of the Dead is a combination holiday, drawing from the Spanish Conquistadors and the Aztec culture. This all-out bash goes on for three days and is filled with extravagant and long celebrations, dressing up in costumes, music, tasty food, and then a serious and somber convening with the dead, as tradition has it. This is a way of grieving, getting another chance to be with their dead, and also helping the passed on their journey through the afterlife. As much as this is a fun and loud celebration, the original meaning holds true—the Day of the Dead is meant as a way to once again, visit with passed loved ones. I would like to delve deeper into this, the true meaning, and come to a more sincere understanding.
For altars, they spare no expense as they put numerous flowers, fruits and vegetables, memorabilia, and pictures of their beloved family members. They decorate the gravestones in the cemeteries the same way, they sing and play instruments, and rejoice with one another for hours throughout the night. The name of this holiday sounds much more ominous than it is, and I think the host for the documentary discovered that through first-hand experience. Stefan Gates (the host) got to celebrate some of his loved ones and placed their pictures on an altar. He went on to say, that even though he does not think himself a very spiritual man, that this was a life-changing experience. He felt a presence throughout the festival and loved how they view death—as something to be celebrated and