In Mexico, a blending of secular and sacred creates megafestival

Published: 2007-11-01

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Jack-o'-lanterns and vampire masks adorn sprawling market stalls alongside yellow "cempasuchil" flowers traditionally given to the dead. Families pray at altars to their lost relatives, while their children dress up as witches and wizards. Teens grasp plastic skulls and ask passers-by to fill them with candy. It doesn't look like a traditional Day of the Dead celebration, but it doesn't look quite like a U.S.-style Halloween party, either. In recent years, many Mexicans have merged their Day of the Dead festival, celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 on the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, with Halloween festivities like those of the United States. The result is a festival that stretches from the night of Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 and includes elements from both traditions; children go "trick or treating" as in the U.S., but they do it on Nov. 1 and carry replica skulls, an image with deep roots in Mexican culture. Church officials and nationalists are angered by what they say is the encroachment of foreign pagan festivities on one of Mexico's most sacred holidays. Families have observed Day of the Dead for centuries, visiting the graves of their ancestors and making them altars decorated with food, drink and flowers.

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