Between religion and tradition
Mexico constantly ranks among the most catholic Latin American countries, which could appear counterintuitive in a country that celebrates death. In fact, in 2022, the main reason not to celebrate the Day of the Dead was because it goes against their religious beliefs. Nonetheless, the Mexica and other civilizations had the celebration rooted in their culture, reason enough for the Catholic church to add the celebration to the All-Saints and All-Souls days. Before that, the rites and preparations could last over two months. Nowadays, Mexicans commemorate those days in a range of forms that go from tradition to religion, from placing offerings and altars to going to mass.Offering altars, the cornerstone of the celebration
Placing offerings ranks among the most common practices during the Day of the Dead, altars go from spaces inside houses to remember the close ones, cemeteries, to large artistic installations such as those in Mexico City’s Zocalo or in the public spaces of UNAM’s University City. Still, according to a 2022 survey, the four main elements that should not be missing from any altar are food, flowers, candles, and photographs of deceased loved ones. Nonetheless, the situation changes from place to place, and other elements such as colorful decorations (papel picado), religious items, to even alcoholic beverages are all commonly accepted.In 2022, the average cost a Mexican household spent on altar offerings was around 1,680 Mexican pesos (almost 100 USD at an exchange rate of 17.13 pesos per 1 USD), which represents an increase of 79.8 percent in the last six years. The most expensive items were tequila bottles, petate (typical Mexican and Central American bedroll made with palm), and traditional dishes that range from tamales to mole.
