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Traditional Bread Of The Dead In Mexico

Traditional bread of the dead in Mexico City, Mexico on October 28, 2020. Every year on Dia de Muertos, Mexicans prepare to receive their deceased for whom they prepare an offering with food, drinks and decorations that remind them of it. One of the elements that is never missing for the offering as well as for eating in season is the traditional bread of the dead.On the slopes of the Popocatepetl volcano in the State of Mexico, is the town of Atlautla where, in an artisanal way, this bread is made. The Villanueva family has been making this delicious Mexican delicacy for 24 years that is seasonal and which, their orders grow year after year, so there are days that only sleep a few hours to continue working and finish them.According to history, the elaboration of this special bread dates back to the time of human sacrifices and the arrival of the Spaniards in what was then New Spain, in 1519. They say that it was a ritual in Mexico before the Conquest. It is said that when a princess was offered to the gods, her heart, still beating, was introduced into a pot with amaranth and then the person who led the rite bit the heart as a sign of gratitude to a god.The Spanish rejected this type of sacrifice and made a heart-shaped wheat bread dipped in sugar painted red, simulating the blood of the maiden. Thus arose the bread of the dead. (Photo by Martin Gorostiola/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#6132044
Date Taken	28 October 2020
Location	N/A
Photographer	Martín Gorostiola/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Martín Gorostiola/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

Traditional bread dead heart-shaped wheat bread special bread dates State of Mexico Mexico City offering sugar time of human sacrifices delicious Mexican delicacy Spaniards years Spanish arrival Mexicans sign of gratitude type of sacrifice Popocatepetl volcano elaboration town of Atlautla person Martin Gorostiola NurPhoto blood food drinks decorations rite Dia Muertos slopes artisanal way orders Villanueva family pot New Spain history deceased days gods ritual Conquest season hours princess maiden elements No People

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