KUALA LUMPUR: Commemorating the dead is a sombre occasion in many cultures. In Mexico, however, honouring departed souls is a cause for celebration.
Celebrated on Nov 1-2 annually, the "Day of the Dead" is a ritual of colour for Mexican households as they set up brightly-coloured altars and adorn them with Mexican marigold flowers, skull-shaped confetti and personal belongings of the deceased.
The Embassy of Mexico in Malaysia has set up two "Altares de Muertos" (altars for the dead) or "Ofrenda" (offering) to observe the "Day of the Dead" this year.
The first altar, displayed at the embassy, is dedicated to the Novo-Hispanic poet Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz – one of the pioneering feminist poets of Latin America who was also born in November.
The other altar is hosted by the Centre for Latin-American Studies at Universiti Malaya as a tribute to honour all Covid-19 victims.
Since the celebration was held virtually, the Mexican ambassador to Malaysia Edmundo Font presented the altar set up at the embassy through a short video that was uploaded on its social media yesterday.
Meanwhile, Centre for Latin-American Studies at Universiti Malaya director Dr. Mario Arturo Ruiz Estrada presented the altar that was showcased in Universiti Malaya today.
The embassy said the video presentation will allow Malaysians to see and understand better about the purpose of setting up altars to celebrate the "Day of the Dead".
The altar is the cornerstone of the celebration as it offers materials that represent the four elements - water, wind, earth and fire - to pay obeisance to the deceased.
Water is left in a pitcher for the spirits can quench their thirst. The "papel picado", or traditional paper banners used to decorate the altar represents the wind.
The food offered at the altar, especially bread, represents earth. Fire is represented by the candles left burning at the altar.