Day of the Dead
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The Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is a three-day, from October 1 to November 2 and it is a Mexican holiday to honor and celebrate loved ones who have died. Dia de los Muertos is Spanish for day of the dead. During this celebration, families gather in churches, at cemeteries, and in homes to pray for and remember their loved ones who have died. The holiday is also celebrated in many Mexican American communities. It is usually celebrated on November 2, the Roman Catholic feast of All Souls' Day. Also, in some communities, the dead are remembered for many days, including November 1, All Saints' Day.
The history of the Day of the Dead is more than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in Mexico; they found many natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. The ritual had been practiced for about 3,000 years. The celebration of Dia de los Muertos, like the customs of Halloween, evolved with the influences of the Celtics, the Romans, and the Christian holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, but with added influences from the Aztec people of Mexico. The Spanish even tried to wipe out this ritual...