10/30/2013
Did you know that some of the cultural traditions incorportated into Dia de los Muertos date back to Aztec culture, 2,500 to 3,000 years ago. This is the time that fallen Aztec warriors would be honored with ofrenda bearing food.
When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they brought the Christian Holiday of All Soul's Day with them. This was a Roman Catholic holy day commemorating the dead in general as well as baptized Christians who were believed to be in purgatory. Spanish priests were quick to see a correlation between the Aztec and Christian celebrations so moved the Aztec festival from summer to fall so that it coincided with All Souls day. This was done in the hopes that the Aztec holiday, which the Spaniards considered to be pagan, would be transformed into an acceptable Christian holiday (this is very similar to the story of Halloween).
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