Leon, Guanajuato.- He’s coming up Day of the DeadCempazuchil flowers can already be seen in nurseries and markets, so it is time to prepare the offering for loved ones who have gone to the other world and will return to visit.
The Day of the Dead offering is a tradition although it has elements prehispanicthere are also many components coming from Europeso it is more of a purely tradition mexican and perhaps the most rooted and widespread.
The belief is that the days November 1 and 2in Mictlan, which is the land of the dead in pre-Hispanic belief, souls are allowed return for a day to the world of the living to visit their relatives.
For this the living prepared a offering which included various elements including food, beverage, light and other elements that would help them find their way back home as well as being able to return to the afterlife.
When to light the candles?
The custom may vary from region to region, but the candles are placed both in the penultimate level higher, as in the level lower as a path, which will serve to guide the visiting soul.
It is believed that the offering can be placed from October 28when it is dedicated to people who they died violently and in this case the candles would have to be lit at noon on this date.
on the 29th is dedicated to the dead who passed away drowned and the souls of purgatoryto whom, in addition to candles, a glass of water is placed.
October 30 is reserved for souls in sorrow, forgotten, lonely or who have died without eating, who are also lit a candle and dead bread.
October 31st it reminds the kids who died no baptism and for them, too, the lighting of the candles would be from noon on the 31st and until noon on November 1st, when the adult souls for whom November 2nd is reserved begin to arrive.
So the candles must be turned on agreement to the soul that is expected to visit, and at noon, without forgetting to turn them off, for safety, during the night.
How is the offering built?
In this tradition the offering consists of 7 levels and although it has changed over the generations, currently the image of a saint or a crucifix is placed on the highest level, candles and lights are placed on the second level, objects of the deceased’s taste and containers with Salt.
On the next lower level, the bread of the dead and the sugar skulls, also known as alfeñiques, are placed. On the fifth level, the dishes and drinks preferred by the returning soul are placed.
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On the sixth level, the portraits of the beloved souls are placed, accompanied by Cempazuchil flowers, and on the lowest level, crosses made of seed shells or salt, flowers, and chopped paper are placed.
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