Day of the Deceased

Like many other Christian festivals, the celebrations of Day of the Deceased every 1st November in Latin America also has roots in pagan rites.

Like many other Christian festivals, the celebrations of Day of the Deceased every 1st November in Latin America also has roots in pagan rites. The Christian missionaries had to adopt many of the rites and indigenous symbols to facilitate evangelization. Nowadays, from one side to the continent to the other, days such as this are characterized by the memory of the dead and visits to cemeteries, but different traditions in this regard are to be found in each country or region. This celebration stems from the belief that the souls of dead relatives visit the earth on this day and families need to ensure that there is plenty of food available for these souls so that they can gain strength to continue on their journey in the afterlife. So they visit the cemetery to either leave food or flowers at the graves or sing their favorite songs. This series of pictures are taken in the Nueva Esperanza Cemetery in the district of Villa Maria del Triunfo in Lima - Peru, one of the biggest cemeteries around the world. 1st November 2014. Lima-Peru

© Guillermo Gutierrez - Families spend all the day near the grave of their relativies. Eating, drinking, singing and dancing.
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Families spend all the day near the grave of their relativies. Eating, drinking, singing and dancing.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - Family dancing and singing around their relative´s grave.
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Family dancing and singing around their relative´s grave.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - A complete family having lunch in front of their relative´s grave.
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A complete family having lunch in front of their relative´s grave.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - Man praying with a bible in his hands.
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Man praying with a bible in his hands.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - Image from the Day of the Deceased photography project
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The cemetery of Nueva Esperanza in the district of Villa Maria del Triunfo is one of the biggest cemeteries in the world. Every November 1st people come to honour their relatives that have passed away.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - People decorate the graves of their relatives using flowers and and small presents.
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People decorate the graves of their relatives using flowers and and small presents.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - Man painting the cross of his relative.
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Man painting the cross of his relative.

© Guillermo Gutierrez - Women selling plastic toys for kids around the cemetery.
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Women selling plastic toys for kids around the cemetery.

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