A Zero To A Hero: Learn Spanish! Ep. 3 - Halloween / Día de Muertos Special
Oct 31, 2019
Explore the fascinating origins of Día de Muertos and its connection to Aztec beliefs. Discover how Halloween evolved from Celtic traditions to Christian practices. Delve into the cultural shifts brought by colonialism on Día de Muertos and the commercialization of Halloween. Uncover the vibrant modern practices such as ofrendas and pan de muerto, and how they contrast with Halloween's spooky celebrations. Join the hosts as they share personal rituals and quiz each other on key vocabulary, all while celebrating these rich traditions.
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Pre-Hispanic Roots Of Día De Muertos
- Día de Muertos stems from pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican beliefs that life and death are two sides of existence.
- The tradition treats death as a return from Mictlan rather than absolute oblivion, encouraging celebration of life.
Shared Liminal Origins Of Both Holidays
- Halloween originates from pre-Christian Celtic harvest rituals where bonfires were lit and the veil to the dead thinned.
- Both Halloween and Día de Muertos share the idea of the living interacting with the dead during a liminal time.
Cultural Blending After Colonization
- Spanish colonization fused indigenous death rituals with Catholic practices rather than fully replacing them.
- People hid native deities in Catholic imagery and blended celebrations like All Saints into local customs.
