028 – Día de Muertos: Lo Que Tienes Que Saber | Day of the Dead: What You Need to Know
El Día de Muertos is celebrated across Mexico on November 2nd. It is believed that around this time, the veil between this world and the spirit world is thinner. This is a time for families to celebrate the lives of their deceased loved ones’ and cherish their memories.
Jim and May talk about the significance of the holiday in Mexico and how it’s celebrated. Families make altars in their ancestors’ names and fill them with pictures, candles, flowers, etc.
People paint their faces to resemble las calaveritas de azúcar (sugar skulls) at the local cultural events. Sweets such as las calaveritas de azúcar and pan de muerto (literally- death bread) are found everywhere.
May describes ancient beliefs like how the manner of your death is the deciding factor for where you go to spend your afterlife, unlike in the Christian or Catholic faith, where you either go to Heaven or Hell depending on your personal deeds in that life.
Michoacán, a state in Mexico, is one of the most important sites to celebrate El Día de Muertos. A large part of the biggest Monarch butterfly reserve is situated in Michoacán. For many people around the world, the butterfly symbolizes death and those who have passed on.
There’s more depth to this holiday than a lot of people realize, so check out the episode to learn a little more!
Links:
- Day of the Dead in Michoacan Video
- Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership
- Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word
- Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases
- Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz