Mictecacihuatl

...If you say it 3 times, does she appear, like Beetlejuice? Let's hope not. This is the Aztec name of the goddess from whom the lore and traditions around Dia De Los Muertos originate!

Most of us are somewhat familiar with Day of the Dead, Sugar Skulls, and all that stuff that happens in Mexican culture around Halloween. But here's the real scoop -

The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican civilization that dominated large parts of Mesoamerica from the 14th to the 16th centuries. They were highly accomplished in agriculture and trade, and were known for their art and architecture. The Aztec Empire was active from 1345 - 1521. In 1427 the "triple alliance" was formed and the Empire was established as a confederation of three city-states: Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan. In 1521, the Spanish conquistadores and their native allies defeated the Aztecs, ending the Aztec Empire. The Spanish captured Tenochtitlan on August 13, 1521 after a two-year campaign.

The Aztecs' religion was polytheistic. Their gods were associated with natural and human elements, such as the sun, water, agriculture, war, and death. Some of the most important gods in the Aztec pantheon were: Tonatiuh: The sun god; Huitzilopochtli: The god of war and the sun, and the left-handed hummingbird god who mythically founded Tenochtitlan; Tlaloc: The god of rain; and Quetzalcóatl: The Feathered Serpent, who was part deity and part culture hero.

The Aztecs believed that the present earth was the last in a series of creations, and that it was positioned between 13 heavens and 9 underworlds. They also believed that human sacrifices were necessary to please the sun god and ensure that he continued to provide light, warmth, and life. The Aztecs often sacrificed slaves or prisoners of war, but some captured soldiers, slaves, and Aztec citizens went willingly. The Aztecs also practiced bloodletting and likely a form of ritual cannibalism. They used two calendars, one with 260 days for rituals and one with 365 days based on the sun's movement.

Sometime during their existence, it is said that a baby was sacrificed and this was Mictecacihuatl. In ther underworld, she aged and gained a husband and together they ruled over the dead, the afterlife, and the underworld. This dark goddess is depicted with an intricately detailed skeletal face, echoing the calavera (calavera means "skull") imagery closely tied to Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Her image, symbolizing both life and death, reflects the Aztec view of existence as an eternal cycle, where death plays a crucial role in renewal and rebirth.

Mictecacihuatl is more than just a mythological figure; she is a timeless symbol of life and death’s cyclical nature. She invites us to confront the mysteries of existence, urging us to accept both the light and darkness in our lives. Her legacy as a dark goddess offers profound wisdom about the human experience, reminding us that transformation often requires the courage to face our deepest fears and embrace life’s constant cycle of change.

Mictecacihuatl remains a powerful and lasting figure in Aztec mythology and beyond. Her influence transcends cultures and eras, challenging us to explore the duality of existence and honor the endless cycle of life and death. With Dia de los Muertos serving as a vivid reminder, her legacy encourages us to celebrate our connection to the past, present, and future within her mysterious realm.

Howeverrrrrr....when the Spanish conquered the Aztecs and Catholicism took hold, many of the traditions were either kind of overwritten or mashed together with Catholic/Christian ones. This has been done multiple times which is why there are so many spooky holidays at the same time. Halloween is celebrated on October 31 due to its roots in ancient Celtic traditions, specifically the festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"). Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest. The Celts thought that on this night, spirits of the dead could return to Earth, and people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these wandering ghosts.

When Christianity spread, the Church incorporated some of these traditions into its own festivals, mostly to keep people interested and participating. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved the celebration of All Saints’ Day (or All Hallows' Day) to November 1 to honor saints and martyrs. The night before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually evolved into "Halloween."

Thus, Halloween's date of October 31 stems from its connection to Samhain and the early Christian practice of marking the eve before All Saints’ Day. Over time, the holiday became less focused on its spiritual origins and more about community-based traditions like trick-or-treating, costume-wearing, and carving pumpkins.

In the case of Dia De Los Muertos, the Catholic Church took what was once a month long Aztec celebration in August and put it with All Saints Day and made it a 2 day observance at the end of October. Gee thanks. If I was a goddess I'd be pretty pissed, but whatever.

A great way to celebrate and honor the dead is to set up a simple altar of old family photos

and spend some time thinking about those people. The Mexican culture does "offerings" of food and drink and whatnot. There is colorful art and decor involved. The costume we are used to seeing is called the "Catrina" - The Catrina stands as a central symbol of the Day of the Dead, representing the cycle of life and death. With her elegant attire and distinctive skull makeup, she embodies the idea that death is an integral part of life, to be acknowledged and celebrated. So dress up, bake bread, and talk to the dead. Happy whatever-you-celebrate!

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