Mexican, Taxco Silver Jewelry: Día de los Muertos

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Dancing Couple Taxco Silver Pendant-Brooch

Dia de Los Muertos - or Day of the Dead – is a popular holiday celebrated throughout Mexico. It is also celebrated by people of Mexican ancestry living in other countries – namely the United States. As a multi-day holiday and festival, Dia de Los Muertos pays homage and respect to friends and family members that have passed away. The holiday unites friends, loved ones, and neighbors in celebrating the passing of relatives – instead of mourning them. In fact, the celebration consists of dancing, extravagant costumes and silver jewelry to keep away evil spirits, and especially great food and drink. In 2008, UNESCO officially honored this annual Mexican holiday, which helps support the spiritual journeys of the deceased and is marked by nationwide dances, parades, and much more.

Holiday Origins and Traditions

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Flirty Catrina Taxco Silver Earrings

Dia de Los Muertos, of course, is a public holiday in Mexico – that dates back to the 16^th century. Before Spanish colonization, the celebration primarily took place in the beginning of summer. However, the holiday became associated with October 31, November 1, and November 2 to correlate with the Western Christian traditions of Halloween and All Saints/Souls Day. Traditions between the Western and Mexican holidays also complimented each other – especially when it came to donning extravagant costumes and even sterling silver jewelry to ward off evil spirits or apparitions. Like in other Mexican cities, Taxco celebrates the holiday with traditional private altars called ofrendas. These are built to honor the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods or snacks of the departed.

Like other faiths and religions, Mexicans also mark the holiday by leaving possessions of the deceased at their respective graves. This practice is even observed in other nations where they also leave ornaments and even jewelry to mark the passing of their loved ones and friends. These items are then given to the cemetery staff to keep or to submit as charitable donations.

Celebrated Across the World

According to scholars, the modern Mexican holiday dates back hundreds of years to an Aztec festival. This event was dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, and was primarily observed by the indigenous people and tribes of Mexico. The holiday has since spread across the word – and many cultures have utilized Dia de Los Muertos as a model for honoring their own relatives and friends that have passed on. In Mexico, the holiday has become a national symbol, which is taught at several schools. The celebration is also intertwined with All Saints Day, which is associated with the Catholic Church.

Holiday Observance Jewelry

Decorated Mexican Silver Skull Ring

Like Mardi gras and other popular holidays, Dia de Los Muertos is observed by wearing vibrant and innovative jewelry. While families gather to honor the dead –they also celebrate with parades, music, foods, drinks, and national festival parties. These events feature people of all ages wearing costumes, along with innovative and creative jewelry to express their feelings and pay respect to fallen loved ones and friends. Some of the more popular jewelry sets and accessories include but are not limited to:

* Colorful Day of the Dead charm bracelets.
* Sugar Skull earrings, anklets, and sparking necklaces.
* Cross Skull charm bracelets, rings, and chains.
* Sterling silver ornaments and lavish jewelry sets.

From Taxco, Mexico, to Spain and America, Dead of the dead jewelry continues to soar in global popularity. With so many styles and designs to choose from, families are truly able to cherish their memories of their love ones with singing, dancing, music and specially jewelry and accessories worn in their honor.
The Mexican Day of the Dead celebration is similar to other culture's observances of a time to honor the dead. The Spanish tradition included festivals and parades, as well as gatherings of families at cemeteries to pray for their deceased loved ones at the end of the day.