Seasons of the Dead

Every year, at the end of October, as the leaves begin to change, people around the world celebrate festivals that honor the dead and play with the thrill of a good scare.

Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts created Samhain, a festival marking the transition between the harvest season and the “dark period” of winter. It was believed that on this night, spirits could return to visit the living world. Traditions such as dressing up in costumes, lighting bonfires, and leaving offerings were common. Few people know that this ancient celebration has evolved into Halloween. Today, we celebrate Halloween by dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins. It’s one of many people’s favorite holidays because it combines spooky fun with the perfect excuse to eat as many sweets as they want.

Around the same time of year, a similar festival is celebrated in France known as All Saints’ Day, or La Toussaint, which honors all saints—both known and unknown. During the 4th century, gatherings to commemorate Christian martyrs were common in France. In the 9th century, Pope Gregory IV officially established the holiday for the entire Catholic Church, designating November 1st as its observance date each year. Today, many people celebrate by visiting cemeteries, decorating graves, and honoring their ancestors. All French students enjoy a two-week vacation at this time, though few still keep up with the old traditions.

As we all know, Mexico also has a special day dedicated to the deceased: El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. This ancient tradition began with the Aztecs, who believed that death was not the end of life. They thought that the souls of the dead traveled to a place called Mictlán, ruled by Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of the underworld. To honor their ancestors, the Aztec people built altars, called ofrendas, with offerings of food, flowers, and personal objects. It was believed that on the night of November 1st, the spirits of the dead would return to visit their families.

Whether through altars, costumes, or flowers, these holidays all share the same universal theme: the remembrance of the dead. Though each culture expresses it differently, they all remind us of the deep human desire to honor those who came before us.