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Dia de Los Muertos, a significant holiday that is highly respected and celebrated among the Mayan and Hispanic communities. During this holiday, from October 31 to November 2, both cultures commemorate and honor the dead by installing altars that represent heaven, earth, and the afterlife. Arturo Canton, a member of the Northern Maya Association, was on the Morning Show and spoke in detail about the holiday.
Arturo Cantun, Northern Maya Association: “And so the Maya still represents it today in an altar. Now the altar, instead of one platform, now it has three. And the three different levels now represent heaven, earth, and the level of the children, we could call it that. So that is what I believe you’re asking about, Richard. So at the top of it, tomorrow when you come to Central Park and for those who are nearby, I’ll invite you to come. The upper-level features what you would find in heaven. There’s a cross-symbolizing Christianity, belief in one God. And on it, you’re going to find beverages, like for example, atole, which is also sacred in the Maya culture, chocolate, and the photograph of the deceased. Then there is the middle. And in the middle, you’re going to find the food depending on, for example, if the altar is for the kids, which is on November, actually it’s October 31st and November 1st, or on November 2nd, which is for the adults. This is where you’re going to find big meals like relleno negro, which is the Pibil, beans, tamales, whatever it is that the deceased person enjoyed in life. This is a way for how to remember them. It is obvious and we understand it, and I think that there is a misconception that people think that the altar is put there for the dead to come and eat. The dead, they’re not going to come and eat the food. It’s a way to remember them.”
The altar’s significance represents the gastronomy of the deceased; however, it’s not placed for any physical dining.
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