The Mexican Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos — is a festive and celebrative time. It is a holiday with a complex history and fusion of old traditions. This view of death started with Meso-American cultures such as the Olmecs more than 3,000 years ago. Meso-Americans believed that during this time of the year, the boundaries that separate the living and the dead weaken and that the deceased could visit the living.The holiday is traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. This festive interaction between the living and the dead is a way of celebrating that life was and still is shared with the departed and is also recognition of the cycle of life and death. This cycle is the cycle of all forms of existence.

This year I was able to finally attend the “Dia De Los Muertos” held at Mission San Luis Rey…which is less than a mile away from where I live. The event had carnival rides, entertainment, vendors and my favorite FOOD!! (which isn’t all too exciting, being that it’s not hard to get Mexican food lol) Nonetheless, I did have esquites, Which is corn kernels in a cup (VS just the cob). Includes mayo, lime juice, cheese, butter, chili poweder…talk about fatty mcfatty…but oh soo good. They had live entertainment, I saw some women dancing on a stage…figuring out what to eat was more distracting. The atmosphere was very live and festive. I really enjoyed looking at people with painting sugar skull faces. The art was amazing and had fun jewelry/keepsakes at the vendor booths.

The event also included longstanding and local customs. Altars, classic car trunk altars, and a chalk cemetery to remember past loved ones were a heartfelt part of the event. My friend decorated her own chalk cemetery square in honor of a past family member.