Animal Companions Honored on Mexico’s Day of the Dead

During Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, animal companions find a special place in family remembrances. While the festivities traditionally center on human loved ones, adorned with marigolds, candles, and photos, the practice of including animals has been gaining momentum.

Day of the Dead, rooted in pre-Hispanic traditions, spans from October 31 to November 2. It honors the deceased through offerings that often include the favorite foods or drinks of the departed. In recent years, however, animal companions have earned their own commemoration day: October 27. The National Anthropology and History Institute now shares tips on including them in altars, reflecting the growing significance of animal companions in modern observances.

For Meztli Lizaola, a Mexico City graphic designer, her Chihuahua Taco holds a permanent place on the family altar. Taco’s ashes, along with his photo, sit next to a picture of her late father, surrounded by marigolds and skull figurines. Taco was fond of traditional Mexican dishes, but Lizaola, mindful of her four other living dogs, refrains from placing food offerings to avoid mischief.

Ethnohistorian Juan Pablo García Urióstegui observes that changes in how animal companions are memorialized echo broader shifts in society, with traditions evolving rapidly. He notes how today, in Mexico’s urban areas, smaller families often consider their animal companions as their “dog kids” or “perrihijos.” This deeper emotional connection has led to the honoring of animal companions as cherished family members, just as in ancient times. Back then, hairless Xoloitzcuintles played a sacred role, accompanying their humans to the afterlife and often being buried with them.

For Lizaola, Taco’s memory lives on in her home and even in a tattoo on her arm. As she reflects on his impact, she recalls how this small dog brought lasting changes to her and her partner’s lives.

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