Which Nationalities Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos?
- Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico, not just one day but two. These two days are named All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Patrons bring sugar skulls, flowers and favorite foods to the departed in hopes that their soul will visit. Pan de Muertos or "Bread of the Dead," is a widely popular food to bring to the dead. Sometimes toys are brought for the dead children, which is usually observed on the first day. Graves are decorated and while a mariachi band plays. Many bring picnics and have fireworks later on in the night.
- Many people in America celebrate this holiday, especially those who have Mexican relatives or are of Mexican descent. People in Texas, Arizona and southern California celebrate in a similar fashion to those in Mexico. The celebration combines with a pagan harvest festival in which some wear masks and carry signs to honor the dead. Participants place slips of paper with prayers on them to be burned inside of an urn.
- People in Latin America celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with a few different rituals. In Ecuador celebrants bring a spiced fruit porridge called colada morada and a bread filled with either cheese or guava paste. People in Guatemala fly big kites and bring a dish eaten only and made on this day called fiambre. In Brazil they celebrate the dead on November 2 by going to church with flowers and candles.
- European countries with people of Spanish and Mexican descent, and those who are of Roman Catholic heritage celebrate Dia de Los Muertos similarly. They bring toys and sweets as presents for the children. They also bring food to graves, along with flowers and candles and say a prayer for the deceased.