Anticipation of Riverside's Day of the Dead festival evokes images of Aztec dancers and sugar skulls. Intricately decorated ofrendas fill White Park. Folks dressed as sexy, yet skeletal, catrins and catrinas stroll down Market Street past food and craft pop-ups. Let's not forget the ubiquitous orange and yellow flowers that are the glue that ties the celebration together.
While many flower species may be used for decoration, the vast majority of Dia de los Muertos flowers belong to two species that account for the orange and yellow froth around ofrendas and other shrines. The traditional flower is commonly known as marigold in English or cempasuchil in Spanish (derived from cempohualxochitl in the still extant Aztec language, Nahuatl). It also goes by "American marigold," "Aztec marigold" or "African marigold." The scientific name is Tagetes erecta. This plant is the OG Mexican decoration dating from pre-Columbian times. The bright orange and yellow colors act to guide spirits from the Land of the Dead to their family's ofrenda.
Each of its names tells a story. Cempohualxochitl means "the flower of twenty petals." Twenty was the sacred number of the Aztecs. Indeed, the Aztec counting system is base twenty.
If you look closely at a marigold "flower," you will see that the individual "petals" are actually florets. That means that the "flower" is actually an inflorescence (or flowerhead) of tiny flowers. That arrangement is typical of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), the largest of all plant families, including dozens of well-known species, from daisies, black-eyed Susans and chrysanthemums to dandelions and artichokes.
The name Tagetes was chosen by botanists to refer to the Etruscan god, Tages. Tages miraculously burst forth from a plowed field to help humanity. Likewise, marigolds are incredibly easy to grow, readily germinating and ready to suffer rough handling. I learned as much as a black-thumbed 9-year-old boy attempting to cultivate anything. Most of my experimental plantings failed. The marigold seeds did not disappoint, yielding those breathtaking inflorescences.
Curiously, the English name "marigold" is derived from an Old World species, Calendula officinalis. When Tagetes erectaarrived in Europe as the Columbian Exchange proceeded, locals recognized the yellow and orange varieties to be precisely the same colors of the Mediterranean native Mary's gold. Mary's gold refers to a gift from the Virgin. Its scientific name is Calendula officinalis. Mary's gold is in the same plant family as marigold; its flowers are also arranged in a flower-like inflorescence. Calendula is Latin for "little calendar" or "little clock." Its arrangement of florets resembles a clock face. Another common English name for C. officinalis is "pot marigold" (also "Scotch marigold" or "ruddles").
Pot marigold turns out to be the other important Dia de los Muertos flower. My experience from attending numerous Day of the Dead celebrations in Riverside has revealed that Mary's gold is a common alternative to Mexican marigold in ofrendas and elsewhere. This year I'm going to pay special attention to see which one dominates.
I did some internet noodling and found that Mary's gold is a legitimate Day of the Dead substitute for marigold. However, let's take a look at the cultural significance of the Mexican original. Tagetes has a pungent odor. My childhood cultivation experiments with marigold went sour when I found that the only species I could grow had a pungent perfume. Hardly the kind of thing to create a bouquet for a potential sweetie! Nonetheless, that strong fragrance plays an important role in showing spirits the way to the ofrenda. Marigold scent can also act as an insect deterrent in a garden, in which it overwhelms that of target species. Even marigold roots exude volatile compounds that inhibit the growth of root knot nematodes in solanaceous crops.
Calendulas, on the other hand, do not smell as strongly. They do not have anti-pest compounds. The florets are edible and palatable. They are suitable for herbal tea. While not as smelly as marigold, it is clear that they have enough odor to lead spirits to an ofrenda.
Like calendulas in the New World, Tagetes marigolds have won hearts in the Old World. In India and other parts of South Asia, this Mexican native has become an integral part of ceremonies. The species is especially featured in weddings, but also plays a role in festivals, religious holidays and even political events. In Ukraine, T. erecta and closely related congeners have become part of the national culture as "chornobryvtsi," featured in patriotic poems and songs.
It is not inappropriate for other plants to supplement marigold and Mary's gold in Dia de los Muertos decorations. In particular, deep red or purple cockscomb (terciopelo), symbolizing blood or mourning, adds a colorful accent. Also, white baby's breath (nube) often is added in the case of deceased children.
There's no celebration of life that compares with Day of the Dead. This year, as you wander among the ofrendas in White Park, turn off your plant blindness for a moment. Take the time to stop and smell the marigolds and Mary's gold (cempohualxochitl and calendula).
