INSIDE NMAI
........................
THE DAY OF THE DEAD
BY CLAUDIA LIMA
commemorate the lives of the deceased and welcome the return of their spirits. Skulls are used to symbolize death and rebirth. The fes- tival was first held during the Aztec summer, but after the Spanish arrived, the celebration was moved to the fall to correspond with the Catholic holidays called All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. As a result of this cultural mixing, modern
Mexicans commemorate their deceased an- cestors by visiting their graves and decorating the tombs with colorful flowers and candles. “Day of the Dead is an excellent teaching
opportunity for the Museum,” said Gaetana DeGennaro (Tohono O’odham), the Re- source Center manager for the National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center in New York. “The ac- tivities we have designed are very interac- tive. People often tend to think that this is something only for children, but adults will also find that they can take part in the events, have some fun and learn cultural facts that enrich the experience.” It is believed that during Dia de los
Muertos the souls of the dead return to visit their living relatives. This is a reason for a big celebration. The main focus of these fes- tivities is a vibrantly decorated altar called an ofrenda. The purpose of this altar is to welcome the souls returning home to their families. The altar consists of many signifi- cant objects, such as pictures of the loved ones, religious items and the four elements: water, wind, fire and earth. Many traditions and customs are based
on observance, and the different regions of Mexico may attribute diverse significance to the objects commonly found at ofrendas. Throughout the festival, staff and special
An ofrenda on display at the National Museum of the American Indian - New York. N
ative peoples consider death as the continuance of life. Death does not mean the end of one’s life but rather a creation of a new one. So every year, on the first and second day of Novem-
ber, many communities celebrate the Dia de los Muertos, a custom from Central America associated primarily with Mexico, especially central and southern Mexico. 46 AMERICAN INDIAN FALL 2015
During the Day of the Dead, indigenous
people honor their deceased loved ones. This unique festival has at least 3,000 years of tra- dition behind it. Many other peoples in South America, as well as some American Indian and several Mexican–American communities in the United States, now celebrate it. Rather than grieve over the loss of a
much-loved family member or a friend, in- digenous groups of Mesoamerica chose to
guests of the museums in New York and Washington, D.C., describe and illustrate dif- ferent indigenous beliefs and guide visitors as they design their own pieces for the ofrendas. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of
the American Indian will host the Day of the Dead at the Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on October 31 and No- vember 1, and in New York City on October 31. For more information please visit Ameri-
canIndian.si.edu. X
Claudia Lima is a former intern of the Museum’s Office of Public Affairs.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68