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Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, the Day of the Dead is one of the most important celebrations in Mexico where families come together to set up altars in honor of their faithful deceased, who are believed to embark on their journey back from the beyond to visit their loved ones still on this plane.

During the Day of the Dead season, the homes and streets of Mexico are flooded with the unique fragrance and orange-yellow color of the cempasúchil flower, whose origin has a touching legend. At kiwilimón, we tell you the legend of the cempasúchil flower so you know all about it and make your Day of the Dead celebration even more traditional.

An everlasting love: The legend of the cempasúchil flower

The cempasúchil flower has been an important part of Mexico's history since pre-Hispanic times, as it was used in offerings to the gods and the deceased, as well as in burials. According to the Agro-Food and Fisheries Information Service, the color and aroma of the cempasúchil flower were loaded with symbolism related to life and death.

You can also read: How to differentiate Mexican cempasúchil from Chinese cempasúchil?

It was believed that the cempasúchil flower could guide the souls of the dead on their way back from Mictlán to visit their relatives. Therefore, tradition dictates placing cempasúchil paths from the main entrance of homes to the place where the Day of the Dead altar is set up so that the faithful deceased can arrive with their families and enjoy the feast prepared in their honor.

The cempasúchil flower was an important part of the Mexica worldview, so much so that its origin was explained in a legend that has reached our days, and at kiwilimón we tell it to you.

A long time ago, there were two children named Xóchitl and Huitzilin. Since they were little, they were together and were fortunate that their childhood friendship turned into an unconditional love as they grew up.

Xóchitl and Huitzilin loved each other so much that they decided to embark on the long and exhausting journey to the top of a hill where the sun shone with unmatched intensity, as it was the abode of Tonatiuh, the sun god.

Upon reaching their destination, the young lovers asked for Tonatiuh's blessing to continue loving each other. Moved by the love they professed for each other and flattered by their offerings, the sun god approved their union, filling them with joy.

However, destiny wanted the paths of Xóchitl and Huitzilin to part, as wars came, and the young man had no choice but to go to battle to defend his people and his beloved.

Time passed, and one fateful day Xóchitl received the news she had long feared to hear: Huitzilin, the man she loved so much, had died in combat. Overcome with grief, Xóchitl pleaded with Tonatiuh through tears to allow her to reunite with Huitzilin in eternity. The sun god, who knew the love of the couple very well, granted her wish. He cast one of his rays upon the young woman, and where she stood, a beautiful bud sprang up.

The bud remained closed for a long time until one day a hummingbird approached it, captivated by its fragrance. As soon as the little bird landed on its leaves, the bud opened, revealing a beautiful yellow flower as radiant as the rays of the sun. It was at that moment that Xóchitl, transformed into a cempasúchil flower, recognized Huitzilin; her beloved had returned to her in the form of a hummingbird to be together for all eternity.

The legend says that as long as there are cempasúchil flowers and hummingbirds, the love of Xóchitl and Huitzilin will never die.

Today, the cempasúchil flower continues to be a symbol that connects the world of the living with that of the dead, reuniting Mexicans each year with their deceased loved ones through the loving offerings placed in their honor on Day of the Dead, making its presence essential during this season.

You can also read: Why is food left for the dead?

If you liked the legend of the cempasúchil flower, at kiwilimón we have a special selection of content about Day of the Dead so you can learn all about this Mexican tradition, from the meaning of its emblematic elements to delicious recipes you can prepare during this season. You can't miss them!