Day of the Dead Around the World
Day of the Dead Traditions
Across the world, many different cultures mark a day to celebrate ancestors who have died. These celebrations range from lively and colourful festivals to spiritual and more serious affairs.
Over time, celebrations have blended together, but despite the shared universal themes, each country preserves its own unique customs and traditions for honoring their departed.One of the most famous celebrations is El Día de Muertos in Mexico. However, Mexico isn’t the only place that dedicates a day to honoring long-lost loved ones. In the Western world, Halloween takes the spotlight, and in the Roman Catholic calendar, All Souls’ Day reflects the spirit of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. India, China, Korea, and the Middle East also hold grand celebrations to honor the deceased.
El Dia De Muertos
The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday celebrated on 1 & 2 November in conjunction with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
Mexicans believe that on this day, the souls of the departed return to visit their loved ones, enjoying food, drinks, and other earthly delights. Families create offerings and decorations to honor this occasion. It’s a joyful occasion that allows people to honor their loved ones and celebrate their memory rather than focusing on the sadness of loss.
Brightly colored sugar skulls are a common highlight of the festival, symbolizing the joy and spirit of deceased loved ones. They represent the essence of life while often reflecting hints of the personality and favorite things of the departed.
Dressing up as skeletons is all part of the excitement. People of all ages get their faces beautifully painted to imitate skulls and wear fancy dresses and sharp suits to embody La Catrina, the iconic symbol of Day of the Dead. She’s an elegantly dressed skeleton who serves as a reminder of our mortality.
Day of the Dead in Ireland
In Europe, the birthplace of Day of the Dead celebrations can be traced to Ireland.
The origin of Western-style Halloween celebrations is “Samhain”, a Celtic holiday that falls on October 31st and means “the end of the harvest”. It represents the moment when villagers would store their provisions and sacrifice the livestock they would need to survive the winter. To scare the evil spirits away they built large bonfires to protect the living.
Day of the Dead in India
In India, the autumn festival of Shraddha is referred to as the Day of the Dead in India.
Special rituals are observed by Hindu families across the country, primarily during Pitru Paksha, which falls in September and October. During this time, families perform rituals involving food offerings and prayers to pay homage to their ancestors and seek their blessings.
Day of the Dead in Nepal
The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday celebrated on 1 & 2 November in conjunction with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
Families who lost a relative in the last year lead a cow (or a child dressed as a cow, if they can’t afford a cow) down the village street in a procession. The cow is one of the most revered animals in Hinduism, and participants believe that the animal will help lead the deceased family member into the afterlife. Each year, people dress up in bright costumes and take part in processions.
The Hungry Ghost Festival
Celebrated by Buddhists and Taoists in the Spring, it is when the gates to the netherworld are said to be most open to the world of the living.
Celebrations kick off with a parade, ending with lanterns being placed on floats and set adrift on water. Families believe that the farther the lantern travels before catching fire, the luckier they will be in the year ahead.
During the Hungry Ghost Festival, families offer food on altars to satisfy wandering spirits. There are countless other celebrations around the world, so take a look at the encyclopedias in our digital library to explore more about them!
Nine Night
This tradition occurs nine days after someone’s passing. It’s a funeral ritual with African origins, commonly practiced in Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Belize, Antigua, Grenada, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Trinidad, and Haiti.
It’s a celebratory event with music, singing and the sharing of food, where friends and family come together to share their memories and stories of the person who died.
Festival of the Dead in Redbridge
This year, drawing inspiration from diverse customs and traditions worldwide, the annual Redbridge Festival of the Dead will be bigger and better than ever, happening in both Wanstead and Ilford. Enjoy two vibrant and unforgettable days celebrating life and honoring the memories of our loved ones.
On Thursday, 30 October, join us at Wanstead Library from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and on Friday, 31 October, come to Redbridge Central Library from 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Everyone is welcome, big or small, to dress up in brightly colored outfits or Day of the Dead-inspired costumes to celebrate and participate in the lantern parade.
Enjoy activities like arts and crafts, storytelling, live music, lantern parades, and so much more! Don’t forget to bring lights or glow sticks to brighten up the procession. Prizes await the best dressed participants!
