Have Authentic Mexican Food on Día de los Muertos
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated every November 1 and 2. On Dia de los Muertos, it is believed the souls of the dead turn to visit the living. To celebrate this day, families visit their loved one’s graves and set up altars with photos and their favorite foods and drinks. If you can’t visit a loved one’s grave on November 2, the next best thing to do is to order up some authentic Mexican cuisine.
The ancient indigenous people of Mexico started celebrating Day of the Dead about 3,000 years ago. What we now know as Day of the Dead started out as a month-long celebration that took place in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar. Today, Day of the Dead is part of a three-day-long celebration that includes Halloween on October 31 and Day of the Innocents on November 1.
If you’ve ever heard of Day of the Dead, you’ve probably seen La Catrina. She is the female skeleton with vibrant makeup and a feathery hat. She is considered the Lady of Death and was worshipped by the Aztecs because it was believed that she protected departed loved ones. La Catrina was thought to have guided deceased loved ones through the final stages of life and the death cycle.
On Day of the Dead, people will leave toys on the graves of dead children. Dead adults usually receive bottles of alcohol or jars of alote as gifts. Many graves are decorated with ofrendas, which usually include marigolds. This specific flower is thought to attract the souls of the dead to their offerings because of the bright color of the flower and the strong smell.
If you can’t make it to a loved one’s grave or you don’t celebrate Day of the Dead in the traditional sense, consider visiting Jalisco Mexican Grill to dine on some authentic Mexican cuisine. We serve all of your favorites, so stop by 8389 S Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida this November 1 and 2!
