Oaxaca guide for Day of the Dead.

CEMETERY VIGILS

DAY OF THE DEAD OAXACA

Vigils in the cemeteries is a tradition that takes place on the Day of the Dead. It consists of decorating the tomb with candles, some fruit, the image of the deceased and Day of the Dead flowers, mainly cempasúchil (marigolds). The food that the deceased liked is also placed on the tomb.

HOW AND WHERE DID THIS TRADITION ARISE?

This tradition arose in Roman times, when they kept a vigil over the body of Jesus Christ on the day He died. This was also done by the families with their dead on the day they died, one year after His death and on the day of the faithful departed.

Photo by: Douglas Favero Photography. Decorated tomb.

When the pantheons were separated from the churches, this tradition was transferred to the civil pantheons, and it began in the tombs of the rich, where the servants went to watch over the tombs because they decorated them with beautiful cloths, flowers and gold and silver candlesticks. Mothers took their daughters to the pantheons well dressed to see if they could get a husband.

After each one decorated the tomb according to their economic possibilities, the Indians began to decorate with things, and pre-Hispanic and community features.

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