The following is an excerpt from "El retorno de los Espíritus"
in Spanish, followed by the English translation. This Title
describes the elaborate celebrations of the Day of the Dead
on Mexico's Janitzio Island. These celebrations pay homage
to the islanders' ancestors and strengthen the bonds among
the living.
El retorno de los Espíritus
Sólo en México la muerte es motivo de una celebración anual
de tal magnitud. A la muerte se la teme, pero también se la
abraza, e incluso es objeto de expresiones humorísticas. El
Día de los Muertos, que se celebra el 1 y el 2 de noviembre
coincidiendo con la festividad católica de Todos los Santos,
es la fiesta religiosa más importante del año. Los
preparativos comienzan con meses de anticipación, y a
medida que se acercan las semanas, la actividad bulle en los
mercados cuando los vivos adquieren artefactos y alimentos que
supuestamente agradan a los muertos, alimentando al mismo
tiempo la economía.
Profundamente arraigada en la antigua civilización azteca,
esta tradición está enraizada en la creencia de un universo
místico. Para los aztecas, la muerte no era el fin de la
existencia sino un umbral que conducía a otros niveles, otros
reinos, en los que las almas de los muertos continuaban
viviendo. Los aztecas creían que la eterna turbina cósmica se
alimentaba de la energía cíclica de la vida y la muerte,
lubricada por la sangre del sacrificio. Durante la conquista,
estos preceptos precolombinos se fundieron con la creencia
cristiana de la eterna subsistencia del alma después de la
muerte en el cielo, el purgatorio y el infierno.
La lenta evolución de esta síntesis modificó creencias aztecas
y católicas: algunos ritos y prácticas desaparecieron y
surgieron otros. De acuerdo con la tradición católica romana,
en el Día de Todos los Santos se honra y recuerda a todos los
santos cristianos y a todos los mártires conocidos y
desconocidos. Antiguamente la celebración estaba acompañada de
una vigilia. La celebración del Día de Todos los Santos se
concentró en la oración y el recuerdo de las almas de todos
los muertos, especialmente los miembros de la propia familia.
Junto a estas arraigadas tradiciones, se observan algunas
incursiones culturales de América del Norte, llevadas por
familiares que viven en el sur de los Estados Unidos, como
la celebración celta de halloween.
Durante la noche del 31 de octubre se reciben las almas de
los niños muertos-- los angelitos-- seguidas de las de
los adultos, los difuntos, la noche siguiente. La
celebración de las almas de los niños se realiza
originalmente en los hogares: al atardecer se efectúan
visitas, llevando regalos para los muertos y rezando
oraciones en los altares familiares. El 1 de noviembre,
el Día de los Niños, se realizan visitas al cementerio con
comida, flores y velas en la vigilia matutina, la velación
de los angelitos, que se lleva a cabo entre las seis y las
nueve de la mañana.
Celebrating the Spirits' Return
It is only in Mexico that death is an occasion for such a
huge annual celebration. Death may be feared, but it is also
embraced, even becoming the subject of humor. Occurring on
November 1 and 2, and coinciding with the Roman Catholic holy
days of All Saints' and All Souls', known as Todos Santos,
the Days of the Dead are the most important religious
observances of the year. Preparations begin months ahead of
time, and as the weeks draw nearer, activity in the
market-places swells as the artifacts and foodstuffs known
to please the dead are consumed by the living, thus feeding
the economy as well.
Rooted in the ancient Aztec civilization, this tradition is
deeply ingrained with beliefs in a mystical universe. To the
Aztecs, death was not viewed as the end of existence but a
gateway to other levels, other realms, where the souls of the
dead continued to exist. The Aztecs held that the eternal
cosmic turbine spun with the cyclical energy of life and death,
lubricated in its motion by sacrificial blood. During the
Conquest, these pre-Columbian precepts became forged with the
Christian canon of the eternal existence of the soul after
death in heaven, purgatory, or hell.
This slowly evolved synthesis modified both Aztec and Catholic
belief systems, some rites and practices disappeared as others
emerged. According to Roman Catholic tradition, All Saints'
Day was set aside in honor and remembrance for all the
Christian saints and all the known and unknown martyrs. In
early times the feast had a vigil associated with it as well.
On All Soul's Day, the focus shifted to prayer and remembrance
of the souls of all the dead, with special intentions for
one's own family members.
In the face of these steadfast traditions there have been some
cultural incursions from North America, as relatives living in
the southern U.S. have brought home to Mexico the Celtic-based
celebration of Halloween.
On the evening of October 31, the souls of the dead children --
los angelitos -- are received, followed by those of the
adults -- los difuntos-- on the next evening. The children's
spirits are originally feted in the homes. It is customary to
visit from house to house after dusk, bringing gifts for the
dead and reciting prayers for them at the home altars. This is
followed on November 1, el Día de los Niños, with visits to the
cemetery for the placement of food, flowers, and candles
during the morning vigil, la velación de los angelitos, which
lasts from 6 A.M. through 9 A.M.
Américas Magazine
Copyright 2000 Organization of American States. All Rights
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