Every Year At The End Of October And The Beginning Of November An Ancient Tradit

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Term Paper Title	Every Year At The End Of October And The Beginning Of November An Ancient Tradit
# of Words	937
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.75

     Every year at the end of October and the beginning of November an ancient tradition is still celebrated on the second of November.  The occasion is "El dia de muerto" or as we would call it, The Day of the Dead.  Mexicans more appropriately call it the cult of death because of the celebration's form and extent.  This coincides with the Christian All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd.  People who have died in the past year are remembered, and their pictures are placed on family altars and special food and drink are offered for the souls of the dead.

       The choice of November 2nd is traditionally attributed to St. Odilo, the fifth abbot of Cluny, the city of France famous for the Abby, because he wanted to follow the example of Cluny in offering special prayers and singing the office of the dead on the day following the feast of All Saints.

     The people of all Latin American countries celebrate this day as a time to remember the departed in joyous celebration instead of somber sadness usually associated with death.  Although the celebrations do include a mourning ritual called "El Duelo" which means the weeping, the atmosphere is one of happiness.  The tradition is observed by both rural and urban areas, but there is a slight difference.  The rural and poor classes have very elaborate altars and offerings while the urban middle to upper class might have a simple offering or mocking attitude toward the tradition.  Some simple offering may include a flower arrangement of "cempazuchitl", the Nabfuafi language name for marigolds, and candles as well.  Some elaborate offerings include: a pie made off corn with various fillings, plates of tamales, beverages which are usually the favorite of the deceased including chocolate, an assortment of flowers, candles, bowls of local fruits such as chayotes, limes, and avacados, and "pan de muerto" which are rounded loaves of bread.  The bread is sometimes shaped like a human with a design of crossed bones.  Marzipan skulls, bread shaped like a skull, can also be implemented in the offering.  The graves are decorated with flower arrangements and the area is covered with Marigold petals.  Candles and copal incense are burned too.  The candle light with the fragrance of the incense are said to help the souls find their way back.  People gather at the cemeteries and play music from homemade drums and flutes.  Street vendors have become a part of the celebration as well by selling a variety of fruits and deli...

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