{"id":59767,"date":"2021-11-01T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ae.com\/aerie-real-life\/?p=59767"},"modified":"2022-01-12T14:16:55","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T14:16:55","slug":"dia-de-los-muertos-changemakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ae.com\/aerie-real-life\/2021\/11\/01\/dia-de-los-muertos-changemakers\/","title":{"rendered":"How #AerieREAL Changemakers Honor Dia de Los Muertos!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By #AerieREAL Changemakers<\/a> Taylor Days, Sahara Powell, and Ambika Rajyagor<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Something about the crisp morning air, falling leaves, and cozy knitwear that Autumn brings encourages us to be around our loved ones and engage in fun seasonal activities. An important day of the season that inspires large celebrations filled with food, costumes, art, music, and commemoration of those who have passed on is called Dia de Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dia de Los Muertos is a 2-day long Mexican holiday in which friends and families gather together during the one time of year when they can reunite with the souls of their deceased loved ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We\u2019d either have a big party at one of my aunt\u2019s houses or, as I got older, I would go to a local festival to celebrate the holiday with my friends and the local community.<\/em><\/p>Sahara Powell<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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History<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The celebration of Dia de Los Muertos traces its roots back to over 3,000 years ago to the Aztecs and other Nahua people residing in central Mexico. In these cultures, death was an intrinsic part of life and those who had passed on were still very much loved and valued through celebrations, stories in remembrance, offerings, and altars. Nowadays, there are countless practices and activities that those who celebrate the holiday can engage in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In my family, we\u2019ve always opted to celebrate the holiday on November 2nd. While I always knew that Day of the Dead was a day spent honoring and remembering those who have passed away, it wasn\u2019t until I was older that I learned the origins of the holiday.<\/em><\/p>Sahara Powell<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Traditions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The center of every Day of the Dead celebration is the ofrenda<\/em>, known in English as an altar with offerings. Ofrendas <\/em>are made by the loved ones of the departed and are typically placed in their homes and\/or at the location of the individual\u2019s final resting place. The altars are filled with papel picados <\/em>(colorful paper tissue decorations)<\/em>, and other items of personal significance to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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