This coming weekend, all “Public Employees” will have a four day long “Day of the Dead” weekend (Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday).
State (public) employees will be off work from the end of business on Friday 29th October 2020 and will be back at work on the morning of Wednesday 3rd November 2020.
The announcement (made by the Vice President, Rosario Murillo through the government news channels) stated that the reason for the holiday was so that families could be together for November 1st; Día de los Angelitos or Día de los Inocentes (the day that deceased children are honored) and November 2nd; Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos, otherwise known as All Souls’ Day or the Day of the Dead.
Tradition
It’s inspired by the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico which are linked to the Catholic celebrations of All Souls and All Saints Days. However, when compared to the two day event they hold, Nicaragua’s “Día de los Difuntos” is a quiet and somber affair.
In Nicaragua, the usual recognition of The Day of the Dead is that all workers are given the afternoon off to join those members of the family at the cemetery or whatever plans they have.
The day focuses on family and friends remembering friends and relatives who have died. Traditionally, November 1st honors the deceased children and infants and November 2nd is for the adults.
People believe it’s a time when the souls of the departed are able to visit the living. Family and friends visit the cemeteries and clean up the gravesite, maybe adding a fresh coat of paint to the tombs and decorating them with new flowers and telling stories about their departed family members. The purpose is to have the souls hear their prayers, stories and comments.
Flower vendors will set up stalls in the town centers and at the cemeteries.
