At the Anthropology Museum

Last Thursday, the Day of the Dead, Alejandro took off from work (as many Mexicans do).  We decided to go the Anthropology Museum to see what special display they had for the occasion.

In the courtyard of the museum they had built a replica of a cabin typical of the town of Yahualica in the "Huasteca" region of the state of Hidalgo.   Villagers were invited to come to Mexico City to prepare the "ofrenda", the Day of the Dead altar which is set up to welcome the souls of departed family members.

Notice the path of marigold petals to guide the souls home.

Alejandro was reading an article on the internet which we both found ridiculous.  The writer insisted that the Day of the Dead has no pre-Hispanic roots, that it is a purely Catholic holy day.  While it is true that the celebration is held on All Souls' Day, a day of prayer for the dead, the day is in fact a mixing of the Catholic observance with the Aztec festival in honor of Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of the underworld.  That festival was held in August, but with the arrival of the Spanish and the nominal conversion of the native people to Catholicism, All Souls' Day became entwined with the old Aztec beliefs.  In northern Mexico, where the influence of the pre-Hispanic civilizations is minimal, the Day of the Dead was not even observed until recent years.  In fact the Church there discouraged its celebration because of the pagan elements.

In the Aztec Hall of the Anthropology Museum, there are plenty of sculptures and artifacts which would fit in with any modern Day of the Dead celebration!