El Dia de Los Muertos

Typically, in the U.S when a loved one passes, we grieve and mourn that loved one by getting together with friends and family to pay our respects to the deceased, whether at a wake, a funeral or both. It’s also very common for us to wear darker colors to show our respects to the one that has passed on. Mourning and grieving is often seen as somber times but, grieving doesn’t look like that in every culture. Different cultures around the world have their own distinct ways of grieving and mourning and it doesn’t always resemble ours.

One of my favorites, is the Latin tradition of “El Día de Los Muertos” or “The Day of The Dead”. It occurs between November 1st and November 2nd. This day isn’t only celebrated by the Mexican culture, it is also celebrated in other Latin countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Traditions and cultures for this holiday vary between each country.

“El Día de Los Muertos” is believed to be the brief time, a passageway between the real world and the spirit world opens, so the deceased can come through to visit with their family again. Normally on November 1st the children or “Angelitos” who have passed, come to visit and on November 2nd, the adults venture back into the real world to visit with their loved ones. It’s not usually a time of tears and sadness. It’s more of a spiritual time of honoring their loved ones.

The symbolism of Calaveras (Skulls) ties into the Aztec tradition, where Calaveras were used in rituals or trophies after battles. Quite often skulls and skeletons are viewed as ominous and scary, but the sugar skulls during “El Día de Los Muertos” are usually very beautifully decorated with bright, edible paint, glitter and beads and they are always wearing a smile.

 The preparation for “El Día de Los Muertos” begins several weeks in advance. This is the time where loved ones of the deceased follow their cultural traditions to create beautiful Ofrendas (Altars) normally consisting of water, their loved one’s favorite food/drink, flowers, and other things to celebrate that person’s life. They also decorate their burial site with marigolds and candles in anticipation of their arrival. Marigolds are used on their Ofrendas and burial site because it is believed those flowers help guide their loved one’s spirit back due to their strong fragrance and bright colors. These two days are filled with elevated vibes, bright colors, lively music, and delicious food.

“El Día de Los Muertos” is a time where families come together in a time of grief, through spirit and love, to honor their loved ones who have passed on. And instead of viewing the passing of their loved one as “the end”, they view it as just a temporary transition to another plane of existence until they meet again on the next “Día de Los Muertos”.

At Athena’s Gifts, we have a few bundles available, in honor of this beautiful cultural tradition. We are a female and minority-owned business, located in The District and we thrive on keeping our fellow Residents happy and elevated! Come reciprocate the love and browse through our menu to see how you can donate to get gifted! We have flowers, baked goods, THC infused drinks, carts, tinctures and now shatter/wax! Feel free to inquire about our products. We’re always here to help. We hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween, no matter what traditions you connect with.