| Welcome to November, which takes its name from ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar. On this date in 1755, the Great Lisbon Earthquake occurred, which was followed by a tsunami and fires. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history with the near-total destruction of Lisbon, Portugal. Geologists estimate the earthquake was close to a magnitude 9 on the Richter scale. All Saints Day: The Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos is an ever-evolving holiday that traces its earliest roots to the Aztec people in what is now central Mexico. The Aztecs used skulls to honor the dead a millennium before the Day of the Dead celebrations emerged. … The same happened on November 1 to honor children who had died. Day of the Dead is a 2-day celebration where it is believed that the passageway between the real world and the spirit world is open so our deceased loved ones can come back to visit us. What do we do when grandpa comes back from the land of the dead? We make his favorite meal and we offer him his favorite drink. We sing, dance, and rejoice before he heads back to the underworld for another year. When Is Day of the Dead Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It is sometimes confused with Halloween because of the symbolic skulls but is not related at all. It is said that on November 1st the children who have passed come back to visit and celebrate as angelitos and on the following day, November 2nd, it’s the adults (Difuntos) turn to show up for the festivities. Family members prepare for several weeks in advance for the tradition by creating altars, decorating burial sites, and cooking specific Day of the Dead food. |
