These Hispanic holidays are coming up in the following months, and you should watch out for them… they are great.

Día de los Santos

On November 1, Catholic countries and individuals celebrate Día de Todos los Santos.
Although the holiday is intended to celebrate the saints, this sense of tribute has expanded over the years. Now, mortals like you and I are also commemorated during this day.

People in Latin America have the tradition of visiting their deceased loved ones in their eternal resting place, decorating their grounds, and even celebrating their life with a banquet or picnic. All of this is under the Church’s guidance, where most services are provided.

Día de los Santos is a long-standing, religious, and respected holiday in which participants remember those who are not here anymore.

Día de los Muertos

Now, in plain sight, El Día de los Muertos has the same purpose as El Día de Los Santos: commemorate the deceased. However, apart from the day it’s celebrated, there’s a significant difference: who marks it.

Remember how Día de los Santos is long-standing and respected? Día de los Muertos is more of a cultural tradition than a religious one. In other words, it is a party.

People still commemorate their deceased, but not at church and not to aid them out of purgatory. Although it is celebrated by several countries in Latin America, Mexico takes the lead. Mexicans mark the Day of the Dead with festivals, costumes, gatherings, and parties.

In addition, Día de los Muertos is more heavily connected with indigenous traditions.
When November second strikes, make sure to buy pan de muertos. Arguably, it’s the best thing you’ll ever try. And probably what gave diabetes to the dead. Not that they died from it…

La Virgen de Guadalupe

Juan Diego. Fact: Every Hispanic family has at least one individual with one of those names.

But Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, the original Juan Diego, lived over 500 years ago and is said to have witnessed four apparitions of the Virgin Mary in December of 1531.

This is primarily a Mexican holiday because Juan Diego was Mexican; that is why the country takes so much pride in this story. Allegedly, this “face” of the Virgin Mary, named La Virgen de Guadalupe, chose to reveal herself before and only for Mexico’s indigenous population. That same year of the apparition, 1531, she was proclaimed patroness (a saint who protects and leads) of Mexico City.

On December 12, every year, you will see the streets of Mexico filled to the brim with people carrying or wearing a tilma, or cloak, with Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image. To read more about why, click on this link.