As you know, Mexico’s most famous holiday is right around the corner, “The Day of The Dead”. On this date, we put our bodies and souls to celebrate our loved ones who’ve passed to the other side. This Mexican tradition is so powerful that, for three days, you can even feel the souls as they go in and out of homes.
Don’t be afraid!
Talking about death, souls and spirits can be scary. However, we assure you that it’s a wonderful experience. From October 31st to November 2nd Mexico is filled with flowers, songs and loads of pan de muerto. In fact, there is a really peaceful atmosphere. Families setting up altars, cooking the deceased’s favorite dishes and remembering their joyful times together in life, all of this reminds us that not even Death can pull us apart from our loved ones.
Now you might be wondering…
Why are there so many ways of celebrating the Day of the Dead?
Historically speaking, we could say that all this diversity is due to the miscegenation. The mix of several Hispanic cultures with the Spanish created a wide variety of styles for celebrating.
However, nowadays each family has its unique way to honor their loved ones. Having said that, if you want to take part in this holiday you only need four things: love for your deceased relatives, a space to place their photos, some food they enjoyed in life and a few candles to light their way. The rest is just your personal taste to decorate your altar.
If you want to learn more, you can read our do it yourself guide to make a Day of the Day altar at home.
Now that it’s clear that you can also be a part of this celebration, let’s talk about the topic of this article.
How is the Day of the Dead celebrated in Jalisco?
Just like many other villages, Jalisco considers the Day of the Dead as one of the most iconic Mexican traditions. The belief that souls are allowed to return for a couple of days to the world of the living, spend time with their loved ones and remember their good days when alive, families are filled with joy to celebrate life after death.
During this holiday, the streets are flooded with colors, scents, flowers, and candles; all the elements needed to announce that our loved ones are welcomed back into this world.
Usually, as part of the traditions, altars are set up with tablecloths, papel picado, cempasuchil flowers, candles, photos of the deceased, and most importantly, food. Truth is, it is believed that souls come back to enjoy a feast with their family and friends, so the classic tamales, hot cocoa and pan de muerto are a must.
“Pan de Muerto’s recipe is the most traditional, which is made in central Mexico and consists in a very soft dough with an orange blossom scent”
- Chef Eduardo Marin of La Antigua Casona
Pan de Muerto: a delicious tradition
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the most deep-rooted tradition of the Day of the Dead is this delicious orange blossom-flavored loaf. Our executive chef at La Antigua Casona says that this bread is not only mouth-watering for its amazing flavor, but also for its ancient way of preparation.
Notwithstanding the wide variety of styles for celebrating the Day of the Dead, this bread is simply unique. Typical of this time of the year, it’s the best way of feeling the warmth of a family during the holiday.
If you want to try this bread, we suggest visiting La Antigua Casona. This restaurant in the center of Tequila, Jalisco will make you live this tradition to the fullest and will allow you to taste the Mexican culture through a delicious ride.
Now that you know everything about the Day of the Dead, it’s time to get ready. Our loved ones are on the way!
