*Día de los Muertos*
Among flowers we are received and among them we depart
"Entre flores nos reciben y entre ellas nos despiden."
— Dicho Mexicano/Mexican proverb
Short Explanation
A celebration and honoring of family members who have passed on, and an opportunity for them to return and visit their loved ones is what Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is all about!
The Celebration
Celebrated from midnight on October 31st - November 2nd every year, this time is recognized as when the border between the spirit world and the real world vanishes. November 1st is designated as “el Día de los Inocentes” (day of the children), where the children may return to be with their families for 24 hours. This day is also “All Saints Day”. November 2nd is “All Souls Day” or “Day of the Dead,” and this is the time for the adults to return. During this small window of time people living in Mexico, the United States, and across the World will leave food or other offerings on the graves of their loved ones. The living can also decorate altars (ofrendas) in their homes and leave their offerings there. The deceased’s favorite foods, stacks of fruit and tortillas, lit candles, and marigolds (zempasuchil) are some of the many offerings that tend to adorn altars and gravesites. The souls then return to eat, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones. The living celebrate by throwing parades, wearing skull masks, and eating sugar candy molded to portray skulls. Although costumes are worn and sugar is consumed, Día de los Muertos is not to be confused as a Mexican version of Halloween.
The History
Día de los Muertos can be traced back 3,000 years ago to pre-Columbian times when the Aztecs and other Nahua people honored their dead with ritual in what is now known today as central Mexico. Once deceased, the soul was thought to travel to the Land of the Dead (Chicunamictlán) only to have to face nine grueling levels to complete, which would take several years, before the soul could finally reach Mictlán, the final resting place. These traditions were eventually fused with Pagan traditions by way of the Spanish conquistadors. The Spaniards followed Catholicism which had adopted some Pagan ways. La Calavera Catrina (Elegant Skull) was a piece by José Guadalupe Posada, and this female skeleton with eccentric clothing and makeup eventually became one of the most notable symbols for Day of the Dead.
The Cache
Congratulations to HTBob to be the FTF!
**A huge thank you to Jbird and Zip for inspiring me on this one. This couple has some of the most creative and clever caches out there! If you are ever in the Southern California area, I highly recommend you hit up their hides.**
This is just your typical Vegas Valley traditional cache… or is it? There may be a bit more to this one, especially with the difficulty rating.
In order to claim this one as a find, you must sign the log. Using a simple TOTT may help, and be sure to bring a pen.
When the log is full, please add a “Needs Maintenance” log so I can change it out. Thanks.
Please attempt to not give too much away in your log so future cachers can also enjoy trying to figure this one out.
Enjoy the hunt, and feel free to reach out to me if you get stuck and can’t take it anymore. Caching should be fun, not frustrating.
Beware of multiple muggles during business hours. Perhaps enjoy the spectacular view over a margarita and/or chips and salsa until the coast is clear. Adiós, hasta la próxima!