What is the Day of the Dead?

The Day of the Dead, contrary to what the name implies, is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colourful celebration where death takes a lively and friendly expression.  This ancestral tradition creates a special time and space to remember and honour loved ones by presenting them with an ofrenda, the fragrance of flowers, the light of candles, the aroma of special foods, and the coming together of family and friends.  It is also a time to make fun of death through calaveras, or mock-obituaries that poke fun at the living.  Sugar, chocolate and amaranth skulls are shared among friends so they can symbolically eat their own death.  There are many different customs and rituals associated with this day, but all serve to allow us reflect on the meaning of our lives and the importance of the people in it.  It is a celebration that looks backward and forward at the same time, honouring what we've been through in our lives, recognising our mortality, and supporting us in shaping our future.