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Although the Pagan holiday of Samhain is officially on the night of October 31, there are also other groups who celebrate the world of the dead around this time of year. In Mexico, the time between October 31 and November 2 is known as
Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. One of the most popular customs is that of making
Sugar Skulls.
Check out our Mexican Food pages for some great recipe ideas from guide Chelsie Kenyon:
I got an email a while ago from a reader named Betta who lives in Mexico, and she mentioned to me that in her country, the dead are welcomed into the world of the living with cakes and breads and flowers. It's quite the opposite of what many of us are used to, though, because here in America there is a mainstream idea that "spirits are bad", yet in largely Catholic Mexico, they are celebrated with joy, as if one is greeting a long-lost friend. Isn't it interesting how two countries so close together geographically can have such opposing perceptions of the spirit world?
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How nice of you to talk about Día de Muertos! It is in deed a very interesting celebration of Pagan origin.
Some people make shrines at home for their dead relatives, or just one in particular and shrines for dead people are also made in many shcools; the great majority visits their dead relatives at the cemetery. There’s lots of flowers, food, music and even booze! Both at the cemetery or at the shrine at home it is important to offer to the dead that which they liked when they were alive, a certain type of food, candies, cigarettes, etcetera!
I’m Mexican and I’d like to point out that the official date for Día de Muertos is November 2 but its celebration may start in November 1 which is a Catholic date known as All Saints Day. October 31, Halloween, is not celebrated the same way as in the USA, it is rather a costume party occasion that may not be held exactly on October 31 but on a more convenient day to party and it’s not associated with Día de Muertos celebration.
It is also the Celtic New Year. Nov 1st is New years day. Funny how many of the pre christian holidays were taken over by the christian church. And many of Celtic heritage remember their ancestors also.
Indeed it is also the Celtic New Year. Also, to state that Samhain is offiicially on October 31st is a little misleading. Samhain celebrations begin at dusk on October 31st and go all the way to dusk on November 1st. The date changes used to be at dusk and not at a precise midnight. So the celebration (Samhain) is officially on November 1st, just starting at dusk on October 31st.