The origin of this celebration is not entirely clear, it is generally believed to be the result of the combination of Mesoamerican and Spanish cultures. In pre-Hispanic times, the Aztecs celebrated once a year Mictecacihuatl, who was the goddess of the dead, because it was believed that there was life after death. Nowadays there are historical documents that this holiday was celebrated during the Colony, but there is nothing between pre-Hispanic cultures and the Day of the Dead that leaves us in doubt about the origin of the celebration. This is why the most accepted theory of its origin is syncretism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Day of the Dead is not necessarily a sad celebration, rather a day to celebrate and remember the deceased with family. It’s more of an intimate gathering. According to Octavio Paz, this celebration gave an identity to Mexicans because they have a “very special relationship with the dead”. Day of the Dead has many variations across the country. For example, in the Yucatan Peninsula, specifically in Campeche, people have a tradition of opening graves and cleaning the clothes of the deceased. In the capital and its surroundings, the most common thing is to put an altar, either in the house or in the pantheon, and it is also very common to decorate them with Cempasuchil flowers and sugar skulls. In the north we are used to having competitions and exhibitions of altars, parades and dances around the Catrina, there are also gastronomic events during these celebrations, in this case from this part of the country this has more social significance. In Michoacán this is where the celebration was born, its main epicenter is on the island of Janitzio, where purepecha traditions have been preserved, a particular tradition is that in some parts of the state the communities wake up in the morning to hunt ducks and eat them later. The elements that all variations have in common are that they use images and meals based on people's pleasures. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Most Latin American countries have a tradition of visiting pantheons and making altars with items in honor of the deceased. Some of them take it to the next level and do more than just an altar. For example, in Guatemala, communities fly kites because it is believed that this scares away evil spirits. In Nicaragua, people have a tradition of sleeping all night next to the graves of the deceased. In Peru, a full banquet of food is offered to the deceased, so that the spirit can enjoy it for 24 hours...