For Mexicans, death is as natural as life itself. It’s seen as an inevitable part of the natural cycle. Birth leads into life, and life leads to death. The worlds of the living and the dead are deeply intertwined, two parts of a whole.

Pre-Hispanic cultures believed that when someone died they went to Mictlán (Place of Death) where they more or less continued their existence. For example, if someone was a baker in life, then they were also a baker in death. This is why you see skeletons (calaveras) decorated to represent different personalities from all walks of life. They aren’t meant to be scary. Instead, they represent the playfulness of the Dead, as they mimic the Living. Continue reading Hosting Our First (Mostly) Authentic Dia de los Muertos Celebration →