Today’s hand-crafted paper automaton Doodle honours Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, often known as Day of the Dead. Families use this holiday, which is observed from November 1st to November 2nd, to pay tribute to departed loved ones. Every year on this day, it is believed that the barrier separating the spirit world from the physical world falls away, enabling departed loved ones to return to their family.
Indigenous roots of Día de los Muertos can be traced back over 3,000 years, to pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures such as the Nahua, Aztec, and Mayan. It was thought that in order to get to Chicunamictlán’s last resting place, a person had to overcome nine trials after passing death. In order to facilitate their loved ones’ transitions to the afterlife, families would set up altares, or offerings, filled with food, drink, tools, and other mementos.
Many Mexicans paint their faces with calaveras (skulls) in celebration. Men wear suits and hats, women wear vibrant shirts or dresses and handmade flower crowns. Families build altars with marigolds and place ofrendas, which include mementos and photographs of the dead. The aroma and vibrancy of these vivid orange the flowers draw souls to the route leading back to life. Around the country, there are also feasts with tamales, pan de muerto, calaveras de azúcar, and other delicious Mexican foods.
The colourful and lively Día de los Muertos is a time to honour and remember those who have departed from this life. It’s a private respect to the dead and a priceless opportunity for families to get back together with their loved ones.