A Celebration of Spirit

3/22/2018

Dios de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday that focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember loved ones who have passed and to support their spiritual journey. Although it is recognized throughout Latin America, it originates from Mexico. I was fortunate enough to be in Sayulita to witness the pure joy and sense of community that is at the heart of this amazing holiday!

Ofrendas

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas. The altars have photographs of the deceased in addition to mementos and their favorite food. Typically decorated with marigolds, the flowers are believed to attract the souls to the offerings being made in their honor.

The Plaza

Preparations for Dios de los Muertos begin many days in advance with the entire town gathering in the plaza to create the altars and decorate the square with flowers and candles. It is a wonderful community effort where all ages come together to do their part in making Sayulita look as festive as possible.

Bursts of Color

Brightly colored flags (papel picado) are strung across the entire town and massive paper installations are created for the streets. The profusion of color is such a shocking difference to how death is conceived in western countries. They choose to celebrate, versus mourn, the souls of their loved ones.

Family Reunion

Families head to the local cemetery to clean and paint the gravestones. Once decorated with fresh flowers, the families have a reunion of sorts where the deceased's favorite foods and beverages are brought and shared. The hope is that the souls will come visit with them during this special time.

Festival Time

The plaza hosts various musicians and dancers in the evenings and the entire town comes out to enjoy the entertainment and reconnect. Dios de los Muertos officially marks the beginning of the tourist season so many Sayulita residents, who tend to travel during the low-season, return during this time.

The Procession

The grand finale is the 12-piece mariachi band that comes to perform at the end of the second day. Playing their beautiful music, they lead everyone in a procession from the plaza to the local cemetery...

It is difficult to put into words how truly magical this experience is. There is such a deep sense of joy and love that the community has for each other as well as their loved ones that have passed. Between the music, the candlelight, and all of the beautiful faces, Dios de los Muertos is truly a one-of-a-kind experience!