Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations

of course this past week we celebrated Halloween and another holiday one with a long tradition in Mexico and a growing presence here in this country Enrique acedo tells us about the Day of the Dead like clog workor AUM Mexico City's floooring Gardens and buzzling markets exploding a fiery display of orange the seuch flower known in the US as the marold is seemingly everywhere its Spong and smells set to guide dep parted Souls back for what's become Mexico's largest public celebration MOS or Day of the Dead I believe the Day of the Dead it's the most beautiful tradition of Mexico Elena radas is one of Mexico's most renowned chefs this time of year she's busy making Pand muerto or bread of the Dead how many do you sell on a typical day we do a lot we start to do them in October because really people ask for it but the day itself it's crazy a traditional sweet bread Pand muerto is often left on the elaborate ofrendas or altars built to honor the Seas loved ones it's said that no one is really dead as long as they aren't forgotten did you celebrate when you were younger and and at home with your family yes fortunately my mother she used to do a beautiful alar practice for Cent iies in many parts of Latin America Day of the Dead is a fusion of Roman Catholic and Indigenous rituals when the Spanish arrived they actually tried to eliminate what they consider to be Pagan alter making traditions of the indigenous people but they really couldn't wipe those out because they were so strongly a part of people's culture So eventually they required the indigenous peoples to move those rituals to November 1st which is All Saints Day and November 2nd which is All Souls day Gina Mary traces the holiday's growing popularity on both sides of the Border in her book Day of the Dead in the USA day of the dead as we know it today is a relatively modern creation yes indigenous peoples in Mexico and in meso America have have have always had a profound respect and love for their ancestors but Street processions and dressing like skeletons and face painting really in the past 50 years you've seen that development and while some Mark the occasion by dressing up muos isn't Mexican Halloween a lot of people come from world right to to see this tradition Claudia kurel de casa is Mexico City's culture Minister she says this weekend's official parade is a showcase for indigenous groups to present their interpretations of the muos millions usually attend it always surprises me how we bring the celebration to everything that we do even remembering our death it's part of the cycle of Life Death for us so that's why we celebrated and since Disney's Academy award-winning 2017 film Coco MOS is the one night of the year our ancestors can come visit us the holiday is more popular than ever especially in the United States where there are more than 37 million Americans of Mexican descent now you can decorate your ofenda at Target or buy your Pand muerto at Costco do you think that takes away from the tradition or that helps to keep it alive I believe the beautiful thing is that it's alive and we get to share it with everyone yes author Regina Mary says what makes muos so appealing is a universal desire to connect with those we've lost and with each other many people feel like there isn't a time or a place where you can publicly celebrate the lives of those people that meant so much to you that help shape who you are who you still love even though they're no longer physically with us so this wonderful holiday has a real gift from the people of [Music] Mexico

Channel: CBS Sunday Morning

Views: 89,722

Keywords: Day of the Dead, Mexico, Sunday Morning, World, CBS Village Latine

Id: QbqW1XpP9Po

Length: 4min 23sec (263 seconds)

Published: Sun Nov 05 2023