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Day Of The Dead Research Paper

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Most Latin American countries have different celebrations that have meanings that tie back to the older days when their ancestors roamed. Modern day Latin America celebrates Dia de los Muertos, which is known as Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead is a common celebration that is mostly found in Central America, Mexico, and now is adopted into the Mexican American culture. The purpose of Day of the Dead is not to grieve over the loss of a loved one, but to commemorate the lives of the loved one, and to appreciate the return of the loved one’s spirit. According to National Geographic,” Dia de los Muertos honors the dead with festivals and lively celebrations, a typically Latin American custom that combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism, brought to the region by Spanish conquistadores.” The pre-Hispanic customs are in ingrained in Dia de los Muertos. These customs made common traditional elements of the Mexican Day of the Dead. Throughout the years, some customs change as the modern world changes, but some …show more content…

Death and life weren’t two separates elements of life but they were viewed as one. When a person dies their life doesn’t completely end but they instead create more life. Dr. Aguilar-Moreno points out that, “Aztec dreams, myths and the illusions of life and death were depicted in and thus represented by sculptures.” Aztecs used their art to represent the journeys throughout life and death. It was a form to memorialize death. That’s why in modern day Day of the Dead most memorials are filled with art and paintings. They are also filled with lots of food, flowers, and the area is always filled with music. All the offerings made are in honor of the deceased. Honoring the dead through the Day of the Dead isn’t the only tradition or belief the Latin Americans used to honor the deceased. Each culture honored the dead differently. But the ultimate goal is to celebrate the life they

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