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Country:
Mexico
Region:
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Day of the dead,
An everlasting centuries old tradition
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by Lena García Feijoo
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Pantheon of San Isidro in Mexico City. The tombs are always adorned with the traditional cempasúchil flower, wooden or plastic toys, and balloons if the deceased was a child.
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With no songs or prayers, the cucuchenses (state of Michoacán) only wait by the tombs of the pantheon, adorned with cempasúchil flowers and lighted candles, there is no lack of food offerings for the deceased.
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THE RITUALS ORIGIN
It is known that, in Mexico, worship of the deceased has existed since pre-Hispanic times, approximately 1800 years b.C. The mexicas, for example, were considered the people of death. Their philosophy regarding mortality and immortality remained shaped in diverse poems, where it is said that life is just a passing state, and to die is to be reborn, to live forever. The Aztecs thought that, when dead, the deceased had three different destinies. The soldiers met with the sun, and four years later became birds. Tlalocan, "the place of delights", was the second region, where those who died of diseases like sciatic, scabies, and leprosy; or those who drowned or died from a thunderbolt arrived. In that place, they will have everything they need. Finally, the Mitotlan or " Kingdom of the deceased " - equivalent to hell - to where one arrived after having crossed a path full of dangers. |
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On the other hand, the Purépecha tradition guards special characteristics: According to the tradition, on the night of the dead arises the shadow of Mintzita, daughter of king Tzintzicha, and the shadow of Itzihuapa, son of Taré and heir of Janitzio, island of Michoacán. Madly in love, they could not be wed due to the unexpected arrival of the Spanish conquerors. The king was imprisoned by Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán. His daughter wanted to rescue him, and offered the fabulous treasure that was underwater. When prince Itzihuapa prepared himself to extract it, he noticed that he was trapped among twenty shadows of the rowers who had hid the treasure under the water, and who were submerged along with him. The prince became the twenty first guardian of the reaches... On the night of the "Day of the Dead", all the guardians awake and climb up the steep hill of the island. In the pantheon, the princess and prince will receive the offerings of the living, while the uncertain candle flames hide the indiscreet glances, and both phantoms whisper affectionate words to each other. This ceremony is still conserved. Its called Animecha Kejtzitakua.
THE HISPANIC TRADITION
The different indigenous groups were affected by the influence of the Spaniards, some of whom implanted terror in death and hell. Nevertheless, some evangelizers contributed an old and rich worship of the dead. Its because of Spain and those who catechized America, that this holiday is celebrated on November 2nd. |
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Next... ...
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See other reportages in:
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Figures representing death.
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A space for a virtual tourism
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Home / Main / Agency / Photographer / Services / Links
Awards / Gallery / Curriculum / Protected Area
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