What is Día de los Muertos?

Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd each year. It honors loved ones who have passed away and welcomes their spirits back for a brief reunion. Far from being a somber event, it’s a vibrant celebration of life, family, and memory. Here are the key elements:

• Altars (Ofrendas): Families create altars decorated with photos of deceased loved ones, marigold flowers, candles, and favorite foods. These altars are designed to welcome the spirits back to the world of the living.
• Marigolds: Known as cempasuchil in Spanish, these bright orange and yellow flowers are thought to attract spirits back with their scent. They’re often scattered in pathways leading to the altars.
• Sugar Skulls and Skeletons (Calaveras): These are playful representations of death, painted with colorful designs, representing the spirit of the holiday, which acknowledges death without fear.
• Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead): This is a sweet, round bread often decorated with bone-shaped patterns on top and served as an offering.
• Celebrations at Cemeteries: Many families visit graves, clean the headstones, and decorate them with flowers, candles, and offerings. In some places, families even spend the night there, sharing food, music, and stories about their loved ones.
• The roots of Día de los Muertos trace back to ancient Aztec and other Indigenous beliefs, and it later blended with Catholic traditions brought by the Spanish. Today, it’s recognized as a UNESCO cultural heritage celebration and continues to spread in popularity worldwide as a beautiful way to honor the memories of those who have passed.