“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
What is Dia de los Muertos?
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead is a celebration to honor deceased ancestors and loved ones. Observed on November 1st in the United States, Dia de los Muertos originated in Mexico, but similar observances (All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Obon Festival (Buddhist), Pchum Ben Day (Cambodian), and Pitru Paksha (Hindu)) are held around the world.
How is Dia de los Muertos Celebrated?
The Day of the Dead turns the hearts and thoughts of the living to their dead ancestors and loved ones. Families create alters where they place photos of their loved ones, along with personal momentos, yellow marigold flowers and samples of the favorite foods of those who have died. The offerings placed on the alters are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead, as the departed souls hear prayers, smell their favorite foods, and want to join in the celebrations.
What Makes Dia de los Muertos Unique?
Ofrenda
Ofrenda is the Spanish word for offering. On the Day of the Dead, participants create Ofrenda alters on tables covered with bright fabric, photographs of the deceased, treasured belongings, colorful marigolds, and traditional food for the departed. Candles may be lit in honor of the dead. One Ofrenda can honor multiple loved ones, or be dedicated on one person.
Calaveras
One common symbol of the Day of the Dead is the Calaveras, or Sugar Skull. These skulls can be made of sugar candies, clay, or can be in the form of face painting. Calaveras are usually drawn with a smile, as if to laugh at death. These Calaveras are placed on the ofrendas of loved ones.
Flor de Muerto
Mexican Marigolds are believed to line the pathways between the living and the dead. The vibrant yellow and floral scent are said to attract the departed souls. Marigolds are called Flor de Muerto (meaning Flower of Dead), and they symbolize the beauty and fragility of life.
How Does Dia de los Muertos Relate to Estate Planning
On the Day of the Dead we honor, celebrate, and remember loved ones and ancestors who have passed away. We also contemplate how we would like to be remembered. Most of us would want to be remembered as someone who was loving, thoughtful, caring, generous, kind, supportive, and other positive qualities. No one wants to leave a legacy where family members squabble over treasured belongings, regret unfinished plans, and mourn misspent inheritance.
Ensure you leave a positive legacy with an estate plan customized to your needs and situation. Avoid costly and burdensome probate mistakes, and ensure your family is taken care of when you’re gone. Work with an experienced Estate Planning Attorney to ensure your comprehensive estate plan is in place to protect your loved ones. To get started, just book a quick phone consultation.
Start the Conversation
It can be difficult to start conversations with your loved ones about Estate Planning topics like Advance Directives, End-of-Life care, and inheritance. One resource that can help is The Conversation Project. The Conversation Project is a non-profit organization that had produced helpful guides to having meaningful and impactful conversations with your loved ones about these issues. These guides are free to download from TheConversationProject.org.
In the North Texas area, we have our own offshoot from The Conversation Project called Conversation Ready North Texas. ConvoReadyNTX has resources applicable to the North Texas area.
Learn More About Dia de los Muertos
If you would like to learn more about Dia de los Muertos, you could access the helpful website DayoftheDead.holiday. There is also a fantastic Disney/Pixar movie about Dia de los Muertos called Coco that is recommended for people of all ages.
If you celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Happy Day of the Dead. If you don’t, check out Coco – then give us a call to get started on your own Estate Planning.
