Some of you may notice that Chris and I have adopted a particularly non-traditional theme for our wedding. Before you are inclined to be offended over the skulls that will grace our event, this page will provide you with a little information as to why we chose to theme our wedding at least partially around a Mexican holiday called Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Before the Spanish invasion of Mexico in the 1500's, many Mesoamerican civilizations called Central and South America home, including the Mayans and the Aztecs. All of the civilizations shared a common belief in the afterlife, and believed that not only did those who has passed lived on, but also that the dead much preferred to be celebrated, not mourned. Their belief in the cyclical nature of life and death meant that death was not a tragic event– it was simply an individual's transition to another plane of existence. Most of the civilizations in this area held month-long celebrations each year to celebrate those who had passed.
After the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they tried to convert the local cultures to Catholicism. The result was a blend of the two religions, in which the month-long celebrations of the dead were converted to two-day celebrations that coincided with the Catholic holiday "All Saints Day" or "All Souls Day"; however, the native folk customs and traditions prevailed. Over the centuries, these traditions transformed into the present Day of the Dead, bestowing Dia de los Muertos with the color, flavor, and fervor that has made it a world-famous holiday.
The meaning behind the holiday is based on the idea that once a year, those who have passed can return to be with their families and loved ones, arriving on October 31st and departing on November 2nd. It is also a reminder that love, and our connection to loved ones, never dies. We are celebrating life. and everything after, as we begin our new life together.
I hope you can embrace our wedding as something a little bit different and a lot of fun!
Before the Spanish invasion of Mexico in the 1500's, many Mesoamerican civilizations called Central and South America home, including the Mayans and the Aztecs. All of the civilizations shared a common belief in the afterlife, and believed that not only did those who has passed lived on, but also that the dead much preferred to be celebrated, not mourned. Their belief in the cyclical nature of life and death meant that death was not a tragic event– it was simply an individual's transition to another plane of existence. Most of the civilizations in this area held month-long celebrations each year to celebrate those who had passed.
After the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they tried to convert the local cultures to Catholicism. The result was a blend of the two religions, in which the month-long celebrations of the dead were converted to two-day celebrations that coincided with the Catholic holiday "All Saints Day" or "All Souls Day"; however, the native folk customs and traditions prevailed. Over the centuries, these traditions transformed into the present Day of the Dead, bestowing Dia de los Muertos with the color, flavor, and fervor that has made it a world-famous holiday.
The meaning behind the holiday is based on the idea that once a year, those who have passed can return to be with their families and loved ones, arriving on October 31st and departing on November 2nd. It is also a reminder that love, and our connection to loved ones, never dies. We are celebrating life. and everything after, as we begin our new life together.
I hope you can embrace our wedding as something a little bit different and a lot of fun!