Day of the Dead Rituals Dates Back 3,000 Years

The Spaniards learned about Dia de Los Muertos when they arrived in central Mexico in the 16th century. They viewed the ritual, which was started by the Aztecs some 3,000 years ago.

When the Spaniards came to Mexico and introduced Catholicism to the indigenous people they blended traditions and beliefs to create their own customs.

Dia de Muertos came to be from a mixture of the Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess, Mictecacihuatl, with the Catholic influence. Mictecacihuatl is the “lady of the dead” and it is said that she watches over the bones of the dead and swallows the stars during the day.

The church rejected the Aztec’s beliefs and turned it into All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day making it on 2 days to fall into the catholic calendar. 

Mexicans have since transformed it into a truly unique holiday that they honor every year.

How It’s Celebrated Today

Today’s customs regarding Day of the Dead festivities have evolved over the years to become the tradition it is now. 

Flowers, altars, food, and music are all integral parts of the holiday.

Families will gather during the night at the cemeteries (panteons), light candles, and place flowers on the burial sites of their lost loved ones. 

Coming Soon - Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead

The Bonfires Of Samhain

Samhain bonfires were once lit on every hilltop in Britain and Ireland as soon as the sun set on October 30. 

The word "balefire" comes from the word "boon", which means "extra".  

To the ancient Celts, fire was a physical symbol of holiness, divinity, truth and beauty and the Samhain fires served a number of purposes: to honor the Gods and Goddesses, to light the dark night and usher in the light of the New Year, to purify the ritual space or home, and to ward off evil. 

The fire was also used to guide the souls of the dead home to their ancestors. 

On this night all the hearth fires were extinguished and relit from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept buning at the center of Ireland. (The only other time it was permitted to extinguish the hearth fire was Beltane, the Sabbat marking the second half of the Celtic year. To do so otherwise was considered very bad luck). 

The old ashes were strewn in the gardens to bless them and insure a fruitful harvest the following year.

In many parts of the British Isles balefires are still lit on Samhain to honor the old ways.

Samhain and Halloween