Commemorating A Traditional Custom~

Article from Provo Daily Herald--

Much like Memorial Day in the United States, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have a three-day celebration called Dia de los Muertos remembering family and friends who have died.

The celebration begins on Oct. 31 and goes to Nov. 2 each year. Family members build and decorate altars with pictures, flowers and favorite foods of the deceased. Family and friends often spend the days praying and singing.

"It's very much like a family reunion," said Arly Diaz, owner of Delipan Bakery in Provo.



One of the common foods of the holiday is Pan de Muerto, or Bread of the Dead, which is a sweetened soft bread shaped like a bun and decorated with a cross symbolizing bones. Even though the bread is eaten at other times of the year, they enjoy it dipped in chocolate for the holiday.

The holiday is often mistaken as similar to the United States celebration of Halloween because it occurs near the same time, but they are quite different. Dia de los Muertos is very much a celebration and a time for parties. The first day of the celebration is usually to honor the death of babies or children and is called "Day of the Little Angels." The second day is to honor adults, and is the "Day of the Dead."