West Ham United's Mexico star Chicharito has wished all Hammers fans a happy Dia de Meurtos in a special video message.
The Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of the most important celebrations in Mexican culture. It’s celebrated just two days after Halloween but its roots and motives couldn't be more different. It has its origin in the indigenous cultures in Mexico, which celebrated their ancestors long before the arrival of the Europeans in America.
In Mexico, Día de Muertos is a reason to celebrate. During the days leading up to 2 November, people prepare altars and offerings in their homes with food and drink to remember their deceased loved ones. The night of the 1st to the 2nd they meet in the cemeteries to clean and decorate the tombs with flowers.
Some of the most important symbols of this day are:
- The “calaveritas” of sugar: candy in the shape of a skull with the names of loved ones.
- The flowers of Cempasúchitl: Yellow flowers, a tradition of Mexico, which symbolise each life that has left the world and are believed to attract and guide the souls of the dead.
- Pan de Muertos: A sweet bread that is baked on the Día de Muertos. It can have different shapes, from simple round shapes to skulls, and is decorated with motifs related to death.
Today, West Ham and Javier Hernandez want to join the celebrations and wish a happy Día de Muertos in Mexico, for all Mexicans around the world and all the fans who would like to take part in this amazing tradition