Lectures - The Mexican Concept of Death

For Mesoamericans, due to their mantic social structure, rank and form of death determined their destiny in the after-life.

Christianity is monotheist in reverence of the Almighty, who resurrects, gives and takes life. After death, the souls waited to be either rewarded or punished in the after-life. Opposite to earlier beliefs, there were only two places to go: heaven or hell.

This is a brief overview of how “Day of the Dead” has evolved as a result of three millenniums of multi-cultural syncretism, and has become the most authentic expression of family ties and cultural heritage. Most view it as a unique Mexican tradition and expression of national identity, whether they live outside Oaxaca or in the suburbs of Chicago or Chihuahua.