El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a traditionally Mexican holiday that begins on October 31st and ends on November 2nd. During this time people celebrate in many ways, but one of the more interesting is the application of one or more tattoos that have to do with the holiday in particular. The holiday is essentially all about honoring the dead and remembering those that have passed on. In the form of tattoos this is seen to be equally important since the idea of honoring one’s relatives, loved ones, or simply those that a person feels like honoring is commitment to tradition. In recent times the Day of the Dead celebrations have become something for those who aren’t Mexican or don’t fully understand the practice to either appropriate for their own uses or practice in ways that are less than respectful to the origins of the holiday. But thankfully those that truly understand it are still in the practice of honoring those that have come before and remembering their ancestors in a way that is both respectful and very impressive.
Tattoos are something that anyone would want to look professional and rather impressive, but those tattoos that are associated with the Day of the Dead are typically meant to be something that will be seen as a badge of honor both for the person wearing it and the person whose likeness is emblazoned therein. These tattoos are meant to be as detailed as possible and placed in areas where it is easy to see them so that those wearing them can show them off to those that will pay attention. The tattoos are typically shown in bright colors or black ink, and can be of someone in the person’s family, a celebrity, or simply a sugar skull that is so commonly seen during this holiday. No matter where it is however the tattoo chosen will be something that the person will be proud to display since it is a mark of their respect and their adherence to tradition.
This holiday is something interesting to watch since like so many other religious holidays it is a rather important time in Mexican culture. Learning more about it however has uncovered that at one point it was practiced during the summer at first, and was not practiced in Northern Mexico for quite some time. The practice moved about in accordance with the colonization of the country and the cultural beliefs that were introduced throughout the many years of change. In truth the Day of the Dead and its celebratory practices have been around for thousands of years. This is one of the many practices that has been around for so long that it seems wise not to question it and to simply embrace the fact that it is here and it is wiser to be respectful to the practice.
For the most part many people that are not Mexican or don’t understand the holiday keep a respectful distance and observe it as anyone would a culture they don’t understand. But once you read up on the holiday a bit and come to understand the depth of which those who practice it believe in the tradition it becomes something quite intriguing and very meaningful.
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