Why so Serious?

Day of the Dead Vocabulary

Día de los Muertos the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 1 to remember the children in our lives who have passed, while Nov. 2 is reserved for adults.

los difuntos the deceased loved ones are commemorated as a reminder to celebrate life.

la Catrina  the name of the female skeleton image dressed in upper class European garb and is most famously associated with this day.

el altar the altar or shrine for the deceased installed at home with many offerings.

las ofrendas  the offerings, placed on top of the altar, consist of traditional items like flowers and candles; as well as items the deceased loved like tequila or a food dish.

la flor de cempasúchil the Mexican marigold is traditionally used to adorn the altars and tombs of the deceased. Cempasúchil means ‘20 petal flower’ in the Nahuatl language.

las veladoras the candles symbolize faith and hope. Its flames guide the souls on their way.

el pan de muertos the bread of the dead is a baked sweet bread roll eaten throughout October.

los tamales  tamales are a corn based dough filled with meats, vegetables, and/or chillies then wrapped in a leaf and steamed.

el atole  a hot corn drink with added notes of cinnamon, vanilla, fruits, and/or chocolate.

las calaveritas de azúcar sugar skulls are decorative skulls made of sugar and can be used as offerings.

las tumbas the tombs of the deceased are visited and decorated with marigolds while eating dinner, listening to mariachis, telling stories, and celebrating with others.

Day of the Dead Phrases

Mexican people have a very humorous and creative way of talking about death. Here are a few common phrases that reference death in this way.

La Catrina al muerto se va a llevar, pero en la fiesta se va a quedar. The Catrina may take the deceased, but they’re still staying to party.

La muerte está tan segura de alcanzarnos que nos da toda una vida de ventaja.  Death is so sure to catch up to us that it gives us our entire life as a head start.

Buen amor y buena muerte, no hay mejor suerte.  Good love and good death, there’s no better luck.

Hay que vivir sonriendo, para morir contentos.  Let’s live smiling so we can die happy.

El muerto a la sepultura y el vivo a la travesura.  The dead to the grave and the living to mischief.

Antes muerta que sencilla. I’d rather be dead than basic.

Bendita la muerte cuando viene después de buen vivir. Blessed is death when it comes after a life well lived.

Ya colgó los tenis. He kicked the bucket. (lit. He hung up his tennis shoes.)

Sobre mi cadáver. Over my dead body.

On the same day of the 1985 earthquake anniversary.

I’ll keep you all updated

Update: Preliminar reports say it’s 7.1 in Axochiapan, Morelos

Telephone lines do not work well right now, please use online services like Whats App, Facebook Messenger, Line, Telegram or similar to contact your family and friends.

Update: Some biuldings suffered damages in Mexico City, other collapsed and there are reports on TV of people traped in some of them. The AICM (Mexico City Airport) is now operating

Update[!!]: Reports say there are 119 dead people across all afected areas. (17:51 pm) This is an early report, this number may change

Update: A factory exploted in Mexico City. Link The ITESM CCM has suffer big damages. Schools in the city have suspended activities and have located their alumni in safe areas.

Update: Civilians and professionals are working together to free people from rubble; cons is that they make so much noise that people trapped can not be heard.

Update: The metro offers free service to users today at all stations, but not all the lines nor stations are operating right now; be cautious. This are the lines that work: L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, LB

Update: There are reports of robberies on the streets in damaged zones. Be super cautious.

Update: Hospitals are offering free service in their emergency departments

-Some Emergency Numbers- (Can call from any state -> ): 911 Locatel: 5658-1111 Bomberos: 5768-2532 Fugas: 5654-3210

If you want to help, you can donate canned foods and personal hygiene products on the shelters that were used on the Chiapas earthquake; make your wifi open for others to use if you can. (This are the things that media has shared. If you know other way to help, tell me to add it)

Links to other posts with pictures: ehr-mantraut, monoukotori, glowyskull