Among cempasúchil flower petals, tamales, tequila, papel picado (decorated tissue paper), candles, and copal, the altar of the dead is built as a tribute to the loved ones who inhabit the world of the dead, but also as a way to heal the pain caused by the absences of the living. Family, friends, beloved musicians, and even dogs, Mexican homes prepare to receive them all every November 2 on the Day of the Dead. But the celebration goes beyond ritual or belief in the afterlife; it is also an exaltation of our history and identity. In each of the elements that make up the Day of the Dead, there is a deep meaning that goes back to ancestral times; such is the case of the cempasúchil flower.
The legend behind this endemic Mexican flower is announced in the name itself: “cempasúchil” is composed of the Nahuatl words cempohualli, which means “twenty“, and xóchitl, which means “flower“. The “flower of twenty petals” boasts bright yellow and orange colors that paint the fields of Puebla, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Oaxaca and San Luis Potosí after a rainy season. But what is behind the cempasúchil flower and its 20 vibrant petals?
The Tragic Legend of the Cempasúchil Flower
Like every great love story in the world of mythologies, the legend of the cempasúchil flower is dyed with the loss and pain of death. It is said that Xochitl and Huitzilin were two children who used to play together in the fields. As they grew up, a love was born between them that surpassed the earthly. Every afternoon, they would climb the mountain to bring flowers to Tonatiuh, the God of the Sun, who would send his warm embrace and bless the couple. Amidst the rays, Xochitl and Huitzilin swore to love each other forever.
Unfortunately, when Huitzilin was old enough he was called to fight in the war to defend his people. Shortly thereafter, news came that the young man had been wounded in battle and eventually died. Xochitl could not contain her grief; she ran to the top of the mountain and implored Tonatiuh to reunite her forever with Huitzilin. The god felt moved, and sent a blazing ray of sunlight that turned Xochitl into a flower of intense color, just like the light that had bathed her.
The flower remained closed, until one day a curious hummingbird flew over it. The bird landed in the center of the flower and it opened immediately, unfurling 20 petals and a strong unmistakable aroma. It was the young couple who were finally united forever, for as long as the cempasúchil flower and the hummingbirds exist, the love of Xochitl and Huitzilin will live on.
Because of the cempasúchil flower petal smell that is placed on the altars, the spirits can be guided and find their way to the spot that will receive them with their favorite drinks and food; and, of course, with the immense love of their relatives and loved ones who miss them. Undoubtedly, the iconic cempasúchil flower is one of the symbols of Mexican identity and its traditions; for it not only represents a custom -quite spiritual- that is kept alive in our days, but also carries a load of our pre-Hispanic past and our roots.
The Day of the Dead asks nothing to other celebrations such as Halloween. Build your altar of the dead and be part of this beautiful tradition.
This story was originally published in Spanish in Cultura Colectiva