From Halloween to Día de los Muertos: traditions, ancestors, and photographs
The last days of October and the first days of November are no ordinary days. They are marked by tradition and meaning, as well as customs and religious observances going back centuries.
There is Halloween, as well as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, Día de los Angelitos, Día de los Difuntos, and finally, Día de los Muertos. And whether or not you participate in these traditions and beliefs, the holidays offer an insight into culture and customs that fill these transition days between one fall month and the next with color, food, light and warmth that are much needed as the days darken and winter approaches.
Like all special days, these days are also significant to anyone who treasures photography as well as the legacy and keepsakes it creates. Read on to learn about the traditions that occur between October 31st and November 2nd, and how photography plays a part in them.
Halloween falls on October 31st and is also known as All Hallow’s Eve, the precursor to the Christian feast days of All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1st) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2nd). Today the religious connotations of this celebration can often be lost amidst pumpkin carving, candy shopping and costume making. But even these present day customs are actually rooted in ancient celebrations, when Halloween was known as Samhain by the Celtic people of Britain and Ireland who believed that on this evening the souls of loved ones who had died would return to their homes and families to visit. They lit hollowed out gourds to light their ancestors’ way home, as well as bonfires to frighten away unfriendly spirits, and wore masks and disguises to avoid unfriendly ghosts. And so we find the origins of our lighthearted traditions of ghosts, goblins, jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treating, and costumes!
The Celts weren’t the only ones who believed that the end of October and beginning of November is a powerful time when the veil between the spirit world and the living is at its thinnest. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos is a two-day celebration that starts the evening of October 31st and concludes on November 2nd. During this period, people take time to remember family and friends gone and hope to entice their spirits to come for a visit. They decorate loved ones’ graves with colorful marigold flowers and create special altars, or ofrendas, lovingly adorned with photographs and keepsakes, as well as their favorite foods and drinks. The origins of Día de los Muertos is a mixture of Spanish Catholicism brought by colonialism and the festivals of the native Aztec population.
All this talk of the dead can seem sad or off-putting to some people. But these holidays and traditions, just like the leaves falling outside our window, reminds us that death is a natural part of the cycle of life and nature, and urges us to remember our ancestors. Whether October, November, or anytime of year, our loved ones are always with us and we should take time to honor them. These traditions help us find the light in the dark, both metaphorically and literally, as memories and candles alike brighten somber moods and dark days.
Photography is another means of finding light, in all aspects of life. After all, a photograph is literally an image captured by light! So it is appropriate that the magical power of photographs is used to complement and highlight these seasonal celebrations.
Growing up, many of us had our pictures taken on the front porch in homemade Halloween costumes before we headed out to trick-or-treat. And for those of us who create ofrendas honoring our ancestors during Día de los Muertos, we spend time poring through family photos looking for the perfect picture that best captures the spirits and memories of those who have passed. Without photographs, we wouldn’t have special images of our loved ones to decorate our altars or memories of favorite Halloweens.
If you haven’t ever associated photographs with their power of legacy and ability to honor ancestors, consider this the year an invitation to start. We have learned this year, how much family and friends mean and how much photographs can soothe and comfort when they’re not near. And it’s the perfect time to create more photographs for our children and grandchildren, friends and loved ones to keep always. Capture the magic of a fall day, or your family’s Halloween festivities, or you and your children preparing the meal for your ofrenda. You’ll treasure the photos which will add to your family’s legacy. Our professional photographers will make sure no one is left out of the photos and that no special moment is missed.
And if these magical and meaningful days between October and November have inspired you to get out and do some traveling, perhaps to Mexico, Spain or one of the countless small towns in the U.S. that knows how to make Halloween memorable, we have local photographers in over 500 cities around the world, ready to capture your memories and traditions!