Day of the Dead Edition 2021 I Quién es Quién Sin Fronteras

November 2021
www.quienesquien.org
Day of the Dead Edition
Day of the Dead: A tradition
from Mexico to the world

Day of the Dead...
F
or every culture in
the world, death has
its own meaning,
which develops a very
particular way of integrating
the concept into their
customs in each region.
Still, undoubtedly, the
characteristics that Mexican
traditions have printed
on this subject stand
out and are increasingly
replicated.
The celebration of the
Day of the Dead originated
in the indigenous
communities of Mexico.
It’s been considered as
part of the list of the Oral
and Intangible Heritage
of Humanity of UNESCO
(United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural
Organization) since
November 7, 2003.
Latin American countries,
such as Ecuador and Guatemala,
also practice the
commemoration, while in
other continents, places
like Japan, Ireland, Thailand,
and South Korea
have similar festivities.
However, the festivity,
the colorfulness, and the
gastronomic aspect of
Mexican customs, among
other details, have given
it its global recognition.
In the Republic, there
are more than 40 indigenous
groups, which
exceed six million people,
and to this day, they
maintain rituals associated
with this diverse
celebration. However, the
essence is preserved: to
honor and remember the
deceased of each family.
The custom has been
practiced since before the
Spaniards colonized Aztec
land. Several cultures,
such as the Totonaca,
Mexica, Purepecha, and
Maya, worship death,
which was conceived as
the beginning of the journey
to the Mictlan (Place
of the Dead). So an of-
fering had to be made to
achieve eternal rest.
The celebration of this
day took place at the end
of October and the first
days of November. When
faced with the need to
adapt and continue its
evangelization process,
the Catholic Church officially
stuck to November
1st and 2nd of each year.
Over time, the Day of the
Dead has gained strength
and has resisted the ups
and downs of modern
marketing. One of the
main elements by which
it is recognized from any
part of the planet is the
sugar skull and “La Catrina,”
a figure created by
the Mexican engraver José
Guadalupe Posada, as social
criticism.
Part of the customs on
the Day of the Dead is
visiting the cemeteries,
decorating the tombs, and
setting up an altar in the
house. This should include
symbolic elements of the
Mictlan, a photo of the deceased,
and their favorite
food as it is believed that
on those days, the spirit
of the deceased is granted
special permission to
return from another plane
to the earthly one to feast
on what they used to eat
in life.
Mexico’s most deeply
rooted cities in this tradition
are Patzcuaro in
Michoacan, Chignahuapan
and Huaquechula in
Puebla, Teotihuacan in the
State of Mexico, Santa
Maria Atzompa in Oaxaca.
Mexico City’s Zócalo and
recently San Miguel de Allende,
in Guanajuato, and
Real de Catorce, in San
Luis Potosí, have organized
artistic and musical
festivals derived from the
theme.
The celebration of the
Day of the Dead represents
the union of two
cultures, which by fusing
pre-Hispanic religious rites
and Catholic festivities,
gave way to a wealth of
manifestations that give
value to one of the most
complex stages of the human
being, the transition
from life to death and the
infinite possibilities that
can exist after it, which
have been analyzed by
religion and science.
Who´s Who
General Director
Carlos Castillo
Administrative Director
Juan Coronel
Editorial Director
Alejandro Araujo
Photography Director
E. Ruíz
Redaction
Trinidad Ravelo
Teodoro Castelán
U. Rodríguez
M. Rodríguez
Citlalli Puente
“Quién es Quién
Sin Fronteras”
Day of the Dead Especial
Digital Distribution
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tel. (956) 309 - 3846
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Catrina Tehuana
CONTENT
Death: A Long Journey to the
Underworld .......................... Page 5
Day of the Dead after the
Conquest................................
Page 9
Day of the Dead today...........
Page 11
The offerings of the altar for
the dead.................................
Page 13
The Catrinas ......................... Page 19
Day of the Dead in
the World .............................. Page 21
Key Artist: Alejandra Oropeza
Model: Alejandra Oropeza
Photographer: Elfego Hernandez
catrinasmerabonita.com
Day of the dead edition 2021

Page 6
“Death, A Long Journey
to the Underworld.”
I
n Mexico, the celebration of
the Day of the Dead, or of
the faithful departed, had
its origin in pre-Hispanic times.
However, some customs were incorporated
or merged from Europe
after the conquest, where the
dead were already worshiped.
However, the celebration or cult
of death of the indigenous peoples
in Mexico has a more mystical
root. It involves the dead in a
detailed chronology of events in
a journey to the “afterlife” after
their death, which could become
complicated, but that details the
vision of death that the Mexican
Indians had, based on their mystical
beliefs.
Road to the Underworld
According to historians, the Mexica
had several periods throughout
the year to celebrate their dead.
The most important were held at
the end of the harvest, between
the months of September and November.
For its part, Aztec society believed
that life continued even in
the afterlife and pointed out the
existence of four “destinies” for
people, according to the way they
died:
-The Tonatiuhichan
or “house of the sun”
Where warriors killed in battle,
the sacrificed, and pregnant women
went.
-The Tlalocan
A type of paradise for those who
died from drowning or water.
-The Chichihualcuauhco
A place for dead babies, where
a nurse tree suckled them while
they were “born again.”
-The Mictlan,
The realm of the dead and the
destination of all people who died
from causes other than war, childbirth,
water, and who were not
newborns.
Those who went to Mictlan had
to go through a long process
through the underworld, during
which a dog, the xoloescuintle,
helped them.
The nine dimensions of Mictlan
To access the Mictlan, the deceased
had to wait four years,
while he was devoured by Tlaltecuhtli,
the goddess of the earth,
and until then, he began a journey
through the nine levels of the
Mexica underworld:
Quién es quién sin fronteras

Mictlan was made up of 9 places,
8 had challenges for the dead, and
in the 9th -the deepest- they could
reach eternal rest:
1.- Apanohuaia or Itzcuintlan:
Here, there was a mighty river,
and the only way to cross it was
with the help of Xólotl. If a dog
had not been treated well in life,
the dead person stayed in this dimension
for eternity.
2.- Tepectli Monamictlan:
Place where the hills collide with
each other, one had to cross, naked,
between the hills, which constantly
came together, avoiding
being destroyed.
3.- Iztepetl:
Hill of razors. This place was
bristling with flints.
4.- Izteecayan:
Where the wind blows like razors;
this was a place with eight
hills, and it snowed heavily.
5.- Paniecatacoyan:
In this place, the bodies floated
like flags; at the foot of the last
hill of Izteecayan begins a very
cold desert area, composed of
eight desert zones, with extreme
weather conditions.
6.- Timiminaloayan:
The place where they arrow;
here, it was said that it was a path
on whose sides invisible hands
sent sharp arrows to riddle those
who passed by.
7.- Teocoyocualloa:
Place where the wild beasts feed
on hearts. In this passage, a wild
beast opened the deceased’s chest
to eat his heart since, without this
organ, the person fell into a puddle
where an alligator fiercely pursued
him.
8.- Izmictlan Apochcalolca:
The road of fog that blinds; in
this place, nine rivers had to be
forded before arriving at the place
where his mortal rest awaited him.
9.- Chicunamictlan:
Here, the souls found their
longed-for rest. It was the deepest
of the places of the lords of
death, where they met Mictlantecuhtli,
master, and lord of Mictlán,
god of the underworld, where he
ruled together with his wife, Mictlancíhuatl.
After passing all these obstacles,
the deceased reach the liberation
of his tetonalli (soul) by entering
nature again.
Day of the dead edition 2021

Economía
Page 10
“Day of the Dead
after the Conquest”
S
ome researchers point out that
the feast of All Saints began
in Europe in the 13th century,
and during this date, the relics of the
Catholic martyrs were exhibited to
receive worship by the people.
It was also synchronous with the
celebration of the faithful departed,
held just one day after the feast of
All Saints.
It was in the 14th century when
the Catholic hierarchy decided to
include this feast in its calendar. The
purpose was to remember all those
who had died in the various pandemics
that had taken place up to
that time, such as the black plague
that devastated Europe.
Likewise, the faithful made an
annual visit to the cemetery, and
bread, wine, and flowers were placed
on the graves. On All Saints’ Day, a
meal was prepared in remembrance
of the dead.
In the Iberian Peninsula, particularly
in Salamanca and Leon, “pan
de muerto” was distributed among
the poor, and in Segovia, on the day
of the Faithful Departed, they were
given “pan de ánimas.”
The belief that the souls returned
to Earth meant that the inhabitants
of some villages in Spain, on the
day of the celebration, did not sleep
in their beds so that the souls could
rest in them.
Other elements that remain are the
use of candles and oil lamps to guide
the souls and a container with water
to quench their thirst.
Day of the dead edition 2021
Quién es quién sin fronteras

Page 12
“Day of the Dead today”
W
ith the arrival of the Spaniards
to the new world
(America), the evangelists
discovered that there was a coincidence
of dates between the
pre-Hispanic celebration of the
dead with All Saints’ Day. This day
was dedicated to the memory of
the saints who died in the name of
Christ, so the celebration did not
disappear as was done with many
other indigenous customs and festivities.
Likewise, Christianity spread the
idea that the dead were awaiting
heaven, hell, purgatory or limbo
according to the conduct observed
during life. These beliefs were syncretized,
to a greater or lesser extent,
with those of the indigenous
and mestizo groups, which gave
rise to the festivities that, with
some modifications, have reached
the present time.
Thus, the celebration of the Day
of the Dead was reduced to November
1 and 2, marked by the
Catholic Church to honor the memory
of All Saints and the Faithful
Departed.
However, in regions such as Oaxaca
and Puebla, it is extended to
several days since it is believed
that those who died of unnatural
causes arrive home days earlier.
Spanish customs were adopted,
such as the consumption of boneshaped
desserts that derived from
the popular pan de muerto and
sugar skulls.
The custom of placing an altar
with candles also began. In this
way, relatives prayed for the soul of
the deceased to reach heaven.
Likewise, it became traditional to
visit the cemeteries, which were
created until the end of the XVIII
century, as a way to prevent diseases
by building them on the outskirts
of the cities.

“The offerings
of the altar for
the dead”
T
he origin of the ofrenda de
muertos is related to the offerings
added to the burial
of Mexica men and women, just as
altars in New Spain were placed to
intercede for the “ánimas benditas
o del purgatorio” (blessed souls or
those in purgatory).
In indigenous and rural areas of
Mexico, one of the most important
features of the Day of the Dead celebration
is the ofrenda, based on the
belief that the dead return to enjoy
the essence and aroma of what their
relatives offer them.
Those who die the month before All
Saints’ Day do not receive an ofrenda
because they do not have time to
obtain permission to attend the celebrations.
The offerings placed on the altar of
the dead should be directed to:
-October 28th for those who violently
lost their lives.
-October 29th is dedicated to all the
dead who have been abandoned and
forgotten.
-On October 30th and 31st, the
altar is dedicated to the children who
died without being baptized.
-On November 1st, All Saints’ Day,
in Mexico, it is customary to remember
the children who died, so their offering
consists of white flowers, toys.
-November 2nd is designated as All
Souls’ Day, and tradition states that
on that night, all the souls visit us on
earth.
Day of the dead edition 2021

Page 16
“Elements of an altar of the dead”
The 7 steps
-First step:
The image of a saint to whom
one is devoted.
-Second step:
It is destined to the souls in
purgatory.
-Third step:
Salt, symbolizes the
purification of the spirit for the
children in purgatory.
-Fourth step:
Bread, which is offered as
food to the souls that pass
through it.
-Fifth step:
The favorite food and fruits of
the deceased are placed.
-Sixth step:
Photographs of the deceased
are placed.
-Seventh and last step:
A cross, which should be
made of seeds or fruits, such
as tejocote and lime.
T
he altar of the dead is a
fundamental element in
the celebration of the Day
of the Dead. As such is placed
in a commonplace in the house
so that everyone has visual ac-
cess to it, being installed on a
table or shelf, its levels
represent the layers of exis-
tence.
The most common are the
altars of two levels since they
represent heaven and earth,
while those altars of three
levels include the concept of
purgatory. But there are also
altars with seven smooth
levels, which symbolize the
necessary steps to reach
heaven and thus be able to
rest in peace (which reminds
us of the pre-Hispanic indig-
enous belief, of the passage
of the soul of the deceased
through the underworld, which
had to pass through the nine
places or levels of the Mictlan,
on its way to the liberation of
the soul and its reincorporation
with nature).
This seven-level altar is
considered the traditional altar
par excellence.
In its elaboration, certain
basic elements must be
considered. Each one of the
steps must be lined with black
and white cloth, which gives it
a different meaning.

Page 18
Image of the deceased. This image honors the highest
part of the altar. It is placed on its back, and in front of it,
a mirror is placed so that the deceased can only see the re-
flection of his relatives, and these, in turn, can only see the
reflection of the deceased.
Image of the souls in purgatory. In case the spirit of
the deceased is in purgatory, it facilitates its exit. According
to the Catholic religion, those who die having commit-
ted venial sins without confessing must expiate their sins in
purgatory.
Copal and incense. Copal is a pre-Hispanic element that
cleanses and purifies the energies of a place and those who
use it; incense sanctifies the environment.
Candles. The light that guides the souls they are purple
and white since they mean mourning and purity, respec-
tively. The candles can be placed according to the cardinal
points, and the candles are extended as a path to reach the
altar.
Papel picado. It is considered a representation of the fes-
tive joy of the Day of the Dead and the wind.
Calaveritas. Made of sugar, clay, or plaster, with colorful
decorations distributed throughout the altar, they allude to
death and remind us that it is always present.
Food. The food that the deceased liked the most is
placed on the altar for the soul to enjoy during its visit.
Alcoholic beverages. These are drinks of the
deceased’s taste, usually “caballitos” of tequila, pulque, or
mezcal.
Personal objects. . Articles that belonged to the
deceased during their lifetime are also placed on the altar
so that the spirit can remember the moments of their life.
Bread. The bread is a representation of the Eucharist
and was added by the Spanish evangelists.
Flowers. The cempasúchil is the flower that serves as a
guide for the spirits in this world because of its aroma.
Water. Water reflects the purity of the soul, the
continuous cycle of regeneration of life and sowing.
Arch. The arch is placed at the top of the altar and
symbolizes the entrance to the world of the dead. It is
decorated with cempasúchil or limonaria flowers.
The cross. It is placed at the top of the altar, next to
the image of the deceased, and can be made of salt or
ashes.

T
H
E
C
A
T
R
I
N
AS
I
n the Day of the Dead festivities
in Mexico and the
world, a recurring figure is
“La Catrina,” an image replicated
visually in hundreds of forums
and among those who celebrate
the date, dressed in honor of this
mythical character.
Originally called “La Calavera
Garbancera,” it was created by
Mexican engraver, illustrator, and
caricaturist José Guadalupe Posada,
famous for drawing scenes of
customs folklore and socio-political
criticism, but with skulls as the
main characters.
During the times of Porfirio Díaz
and Benito Juárez, texts were
written by the middle class to criticize
the upper class, and the unequal
economic situation became
common. Writings that began
to be printed in newspapers “De
Combate” and visually accompanied
by these funny characters.
Although “La Calavera Garbancera”
was created in 1910,
it was in 1947 when the painter
Diego Rivera integrated it into
the mural “Sueño de una tarde
dominical en la Alameda Central”
(Dream of a Sunday Afternoon
in the Central Alameda) along
with its original creator, regaining
popularity, gradually earning the
nickname of “La Catrina” (The Catrina).
Quién es quién sin fronteras
Page 20
This is how this figure began
a journey that crossed several
boundaries and became a universal
symbol of Mexican culture. It
is increasingly common that it is
used to represent the festivities of
the faithful departed.
According to figures from a survey
conducted in 2017 by Gabinete
de Comunicación Estratégica in
Mexico, only 26% of the population
does not participate in this
celebration, and for 33%, “La Catrina
“is the most relevant as an
element associated with the representation
of death. Some think
that the cultural appropriation of
“La Catrina” by foreigners distorts
its origin, transforming it to have
a more significant commercial
impact, such as the controversial
case when the Mattel chain
launched a Barbie inspired by the
character.
However, it should be noted that
the ornaments used in the edition
of the doll, as well as for many
costumes and characterizations,
correspond to those of the craft
known as “Calaverita de azúcar”
that differ in great part from the
particularities with which Posada
gave life to “La Catrina.”
Paradoxically, although its existence
is a signification of death, it
gives life to a recognized tradition
such as the “Day of the Dead.”

Page 22
Day of the Dead
in the World
The Ixteca Collective, in Paris,
France, was one of the first to
organize annual dances, catrina
parades, and concerts that transmit
the essence of the tribute to
death for Latin Americans living
there, as well as for Parisians and
foreigners who come together
during these dates.
The marked contrast of cultures
between Germany and Mexico is
notorious. However, the Mexican
Embassy there has the task of
explaining in practice the meaning
of the Day of the Dead tradition,
with the installation of a market of
Mexican handcrafts and mariachis
sharing the most representative
symbolisms of the original tradition.
O
n different dates in several
countries, the dead are also
celebrated, with festivities
that bear little resemblance to the
hustle and bustle of colors, smells,
and flavors that make Mexico’s Day
of the Dead stand out in the world.
That is why, across borders, the
elements and characteristics of
the altars or the Catrinas have resumed
thousands of kilometers
Day of the dead edition 2021
away from their origin to allow
Mexicans and foreigners to join the
tradition.
Little by little, places like San
Antonio, Texas, replicate every
typical activity of November 1st
and 2nd in Mexico with the “Day
of the Dead River Parade,” which
takes place in the River Walk or
the “Muertos Fest” in the Hemisfair
that brings together more than 20
events of music, dance, and exhibitions.
In Barcelona, Spain, the Mexican-
Catalan Cultural Association
organizes a “Route of Altars’’ that
summons the general public,
companies, or institutions to put
together a circuit with various
ofrendas, available to people who
participate in tours to get to know
them.
Quién es quién sin fronteras
Some other places in the world
join with great enthusiasm to this
important Mexican commemoration,
as is the case in the Rockefeller
Center, in New York, where
for the first time in almost 60
years, it houses in its esplanades
monumental features of Mexican
culture, with installations that
include alebrijes and a massive
altar of the dead in charge of the
Mexican Consulate.

Altar at the White House
Also, at the White House, for the
first time in U.S. history, on the instructions
of President Joe Biden
and his wife, Jill Biden, the White
House installed an altar of the dead
to celebrate this Mexican tradition.
Its Own Celebration
Although the celebration of the Day
of the Dead in Mexico is one of the
most colorful worldwide, the memory
of the deceased is honored.
-Spain, in some communities, on
December 31, the table is set waiting
for the deceased relatives to come
and share the end of the year meal.
-Italy, particularly in Sicily, it is believed
that the ancestors came and
brought gifts and sweets to the family’s
children on November 2.
-Japan, a festival called Obon is
held on August 15, and although it
is a custom of Buddhist origin, celebrated
for 500 years with dances and
dances.
-Haiti, during All Souls Day, the
streets of Port-au-Prince are filled
with people dressed in red and black
to go to the cemetery. Once there,
under the towering cross of the Baron
and Maman Brigitte (in voodoo,
the cycle of life and death), some
people pour coffee and rum at the
foot of the crosses or leave food such
as peanuts and corn as an offering.
-China, where the Ching Ming or
Festival of Hungry Ghosts is
celebrated, and families traditionally
arrange and clean the graves of their
ancestors, money is burned as a
symbol of prosperity, and willow
twigs are hung on the doors as a
symbol of light, enemy of darkness.
-In India, the day of Mahalaya
Amavasya is of utmost importance
for the Hindu community. On this
day, religious rites are performed to
invoke the spirits of the past; all this
is in a ceremony where the souls are
worshipped, and peace is requested
for the rest of the year.
For this celebration, the date is
defined based on the cycles and
position of the moon; therefore, the
Altar of the Dead at the White House
celebrations can take place during
the first fortnight of September,
precisely on the day of the new
moon. On this day, some sacred
hymns and mantras are transmitted
through the radio. At the same
time, in the homes, the verses of the
“Chandi Path” about the reincarnation
of Goddess Durga are recited,
and at nightfall, people pray to this
goddess to drive away from the
demons.
Day of the dead edition 2021
Quién es quién sin fronteras

Mictlantecuhtli, Mexica God of the Death