The Day of the Dead, "El Día de Muertos" is a Mexican celebration with pre-Hispanic roots. Coinciding with other catholic celebrations, the Day of the Dead honors the deceased from the November 1st to November 2nd. At first glance, given the morbid theme and the specific dates, it would be normal to compare this festival to Halloween, but in fact the origins of El Día de Muertos couldn’t be more different.
Despite the fact that nowadays the festival has a Christian feel, it has managed to retain some of the oldest customs throughout the passage of time. The Day of the Dead originates from the deep reverence paid to the idea of death in Mayan, Aztec, Olmec, and Mexica cultures.
The Art of Dia De Los Muertos Documentary
Today, the celebration is incredibly diverse both culturally and aesthetically. The deceased are honored with generous offerings, altars adorned with personal belongings and colorful paper, and the well-known sweets, Sugar Skulls. The diversity of the festival can also be seen in the often humorous symbols personifying Death; La Catrina’s presence can be seen far and wide in decorations, face painting, and all kinds of images. This iconography mixed with elements of the religious cult are reflected in the work of countless artists and designers who appear in today's gallery.