Cultural Differences in Death: How 'Coco' Reveals the Relationship with the Deceased

If you grew up in Taiwan, hearing 'ghosts return to the human world' would likely make you feel cautious. Starting from the first day of the seventh lunar month, elders begin to remind you of various taboos, and preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival begin. Traditional rituals not only involve welcoming the spirits but also sending them off, maintaining a boundary between the living and the dead. However, in Pixar's animated film 'Coco,' the scene is completely different. During the Day of the Dead, cemeteries are not gloomy but decorated with flowers, candles, and food. The deceased, transformed into skeletons, cross bridges made of flower petals to return home, and the living prepare altars, sing songs, and share meals with them. Why is it that the same concept of 'the deceased returning to the human world' is seen as a taboo in Taiwan but a lively festival in Mexico? The answer is not as simple as 'Mexicans are not afraid of ghosts.' What is truly worth understanding is the role in which the deceased return.