Day of the Dead celebrations around the world

Controversial in some ways and aspects, Catholic communities in various cultures combine celebrating a mixture of All Saints and All Souls Day along with Halloween. In Mexico, there are even stronger roots from local culture and other religions that unite such celebrations.

This article discusses the celebrations around the world. In Europe, November 1 has become a national holiday. People flock to cemeteries to visit their lost loved ones. Latin countries celebrate with festivals.

"The November 2 "Dia de Muertos", "Dia de Difuntos" or All Souls' Day interweaves Spanish influences with indigenous ancestor worship in south America, especially in places with strong indigenous populations such as in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

-- Celebrations often begin November 1 with the "Dia de Muertos Chiquitos", The Day of the Little Dead, dedicated to departed children.

-- In Mexico, people build colorful Day of the Dead altars in their homes. Burning incense and candles they adorn the displays with sugar skulls, flowers, chocolate coffins, papier-mch skeletons and photographs of the deceased.

-- They also offer up their dead relative's favorite food and remember their vices -- sweet breads, cakes, tequila, rum and cigarettes -- to entice them to return home.

-- Cemetery visitors pay tribute to the dead by offering them bread, alcohol and flowers, especially marigolds, and often getting drunk "with" their beloved deceased." via Reuters

However the Catholic News Service reports that these celebrations are considered controversial by church officials and nationalists.

"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." via CNS

One sector of society that benefits from the festival is the tourism trade. Special tours are being offered that include Day of the Dead festival activities at sites like this: http://www.traditionsmexico.com/wr2_Seeds.html