Día de Muertos is…
…a Mexican tradition and holiday in which people take some time to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones who have passed away. This celebration is deeply ingrained in our national identity, as it combines elements from pre-Hispanic and Hispanic cultures. It reflects modern Mexican society's unique fusion of these cultural influences, resulting in a colorful and rich celebration of life and death.
Interestingly, I didn't...
...grow up celebrating Día de Muertos. Halloween, which was far more popular in my hometown during my childhood, was the holiday I celebrated. Día de Muertos was often considered an “indigenous” holiday, and those of higher socioeconomic backgrounds or of European/North American descent in Mexico rarely embraced it. In our country, a phenomenon known as “malinchism” prevailed, wherein Mexican culture was often viewed as inferior or low-class, while foreign cultures were seen as superior and more refined. Día de Muertos was no exception to this perception, and many people avoided it because of this bias.
However, as I grew older,…
…opinions about Día de Muertos changed completely. It began to gain visibility in pop culture, such as in the James Bond movie Spectre (fun fact: the annual Día de Muertos parade in Mexico City was only established after its depiction in this movie) and the renowned Pixar movie, Coco. Gradually, more and more people began to appreciate the beauty of this tradition. The endurance and significance of this holiday is undeniably beautiful, as it taught me to challenge and reevaluate any malinchist notions I might have held while growing up. Celebrating Día de Muertos became a profound lesson in understanding my roots, my identity, and my direction in life. Nowadays, I take immense pride in this tradition and celebrate it with great enthusiasm.
Although I live in the Netherlands,…
…I set up a small altar at my place every year with pictures of my loved ones who have passed away, and decorate it with their favorite foods, papel picado, cempasúchil (Mexican marigold) flowers made of paper, and of course, pan de muerto.
During holidays like this…
…it's a real challenge being away from home, because, in Mexico, people really care about their families, communities and heritage. This holiday embodies all of that. Besides, this holiday teaches to see death for what it is: a part of life that we should embrace. So instead of dreading it, we choose to celebrate it, make fun of it, and see it in a different, more colorful light. It's a reminder of the good times and the beauty of being back home. Plus, you can't beat the weather in Mexico around this time of year, which just makes me miss it even more.
I think it's awesome…
…that X is celebrating Día de Muertos by hosting an event. X is the perfect place on campus to celebrate our cultural differences and show others why this holiday is so important in Mexico. Funny enough, back in 2017, Latitud organized a Día de Muertos event, and I helped people with their Catrina makeup. So yeah, it's almost like a tradition for me now to be part of the Día de Muertos celebrations here at X. ?
