Bread of the Dead, a Delicious Tradition, or an Internet Joke?

One of the most important elements of the offering for the celebration of “Dia de Muertos” or the day of the dead in Mexico is the “Pan de Muerto” or bread of the dead. This same is also sold to eat during that time, there are countless variants and ingredients with which it can be prepared and eaten.

 

• Where does it come from?

Its origin is varied, on one hand we have the ancient pre-Hispanic people who made figures of corn dough or amaranth representing different deities, butterflies, or even bones in tribute or honor to their gods. And on the other hand to the Spanish conquerors, especially the priests, who decided to make a bread covered with red sugar that referred to the bloody heart of the people who were destined for the sacrifices, trying to convince the natives of the change of tribute. A bread for a life.

The “Pan de Muerto” has different representations that depend on customs and traditions, but the one that is generally known as the main or the most famous is made up of very interesting elements. The central part of the bread, which is a rounded mass in the shape of a half sphere, represents the cycle of life and death. The piece that is at the top, the small ball, represents the skull or the heart. The 4 pieces that cross over it symbolize the bones of the limbs, placed in the shape of a cross, which also refer to the four cardinal points of the Aztec calendar and is dedicated to the pre-Hispanic gods Quetzalcóatl, Xipetotec, Tláloc and Tezcatlipoca. And finally a touch of orange blossom and orange, which is added during the elaboration, as an aromatic tribute in honor of the deceased.

Currently in Mexico, each region has its variants and adaptations of the “Pan de Muerto”, depending on the ingredients and inputs endemic to the place. In the cities there are new interpretations and offers of this famous bread, with ingredients ranging from the filling of dulce de leche, cream, nutella, chocolate, flavored pastry cream, and sprinkled with colored sugar such as black, pink, green, etc. . Even adding melted chocolate on top with cookies or chocolate bunnies.

 

• An Internet Joke?

Even with the recent boom of the TikTok platform, foreigners have not been exempt from the characteristic playful humor of Mexicans, as at some point it led users from other countries to believe that indeed, Mexican pan de muerto was prepared with ashes of our deceased and eaten on the first of November by their relatives. Many videos and false comments from Mexicans claiming they had consumed the remains of their deceased family members in this snack every year fueled the joke. But don't worry dear readers because that's just a Mexican joke for the internet.

It is certain that in Mexico this delicious tradition will continue for a long time, adapting to its time and area. Still, it surprises more than one for its meaning and fills Mexicans with joy, who throughout the year look forward to eating it in the season of “Dia de Muertos”.