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Dia De Los Muerto Research Paper

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In addition to a border, the United States and Mexico share many traditions, holidays, cultures, languages, and food. This is probably because both countries are in the same continent and people can easily travel between the two easier than they could with countries in other parts of the world. Because of this, the popular holidays, Dia de los Muertos and Halloween may have some background that can relate their two histories together. They both seem to have something to do with death and skulls but, what is their true connection, if they even have one.

To better understand the history of the two holidays, we should look at where it all first began. An ancient Celtic festival of Samhain about 2,000 years ago was when Halloween was first created. This celebration took place on October 31st and it marked the end of summer, the harvest and the beginning of winter. During this time, winter resembled a cold and dark time which was often …show more content…

Both holidays are celebrated on November 1st, but Dia de los Muertos lasts until the November 2nd. It has been said that when Spanish conquistadors settled in central Mexico they found natives “mocking death”. As they were doing so, the conquistadors found them role playing as a dying person a “God” and a “Devil”. Because of this incident, Mexicans have come to appreciate the dead. Because Dia de los Muertos,“Is not mourning of lost loved ones, but a celebration, a reunion with the dead” (Fukuda 2),Dia de los Muertos is celebrated thought the world. The festival is called the Day of the Dead but, it is more like a ‘season’ of the dead. It begins in mid-October and continues until San Andreas Day, which is November 30 when, it is said, San Andreas closes the gates of Heaven after all of the souls have returned. The gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children are allowed to reunite with their families for 24

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