The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1–2 each year. It blends indigenous traditions (Aztec rituals honoring the dead) with Catholic practices introduced by the Spanish (All Saints' and All Souls' Days).
Here's a quick breakdown:
Date Focus Meaning
Nov 1 (Día de los Inocentes / All Saints' Day) Children & infants who have passed Families honor "angelitos" (little angels).
Nov 2 (Día de los Muertos / All Souls' Day) Adults who have passed Families remember and celebrate deceased relatives.
Key Traditions:
Ofrendas (altars): Built in homes or cemeteries with photos, candles, food, flowers, and belongings of the departed.
Marigolds (cempasúchil): Bright flowers believed to guide spirits back to the living world.
Sugar skulls & pan de muerto: Iconic food offerings symbolizing life and death.
Cemetery visits: Families clean and decorate graves, sometimes holding vigils with music and food.
Skeleton imagery (calacas): Representing the joyful view of death as part of life's cycle.
The spirit of the holiday is not mourning, but celebration of life and remembrance, recognizing death as a natural transition rather than an end.