"Arte Six": Quick Hits: TRAVEL: Mexico: Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead/El Día de los Muertos
by Marvin Perton

Every year, on November 1st (All Saints Day) and 2nd (All Souls Day), something unique takes place in many areas of Mexico: Day of the Dead festivities.

While it's strange for most of us to accept the fact that "death" and "festivities" can go hand-in-hand, for most Mexicans, the two are intricately entwined. This all stems from the ancient indigenous peoples of Mexico (Purepecha, Nahua, Totonac and Otomí) who believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit with their living relatives - to eat, drink and be merry.

Just like they did when they were living.

Read the Day of the Dead feature, by guest columnist Marvin Perton, in the March 2004 issue of "Arte Six".