What is the Day of the Dead?
Quick answer
The Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2, when families honor and remember loved ones who have died. It’s a joyful, colorful celebration, not a sad one, with home altars called ofrendas, marigold flowers, sugar skulls and visits to cemeteries.
Its roots
Día de Muertos blends Indigenous traditions, especially Aztec rituals honoring the dead and the goddess Mictecacihuatl, with the Catholic feasts of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, brought by the Spanish. In 2008, UNESCO added it to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The two days
| Date | Who is honored |
|---|---|
| November 1 | Children who have died (Día de los Angelitos) |
| November 2 | Adults who have died |
Many families begin preparing in late October.
Key traditions
| Tradition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ofrenda (altar) | Decorated with photos, candles, the person’s favorite foods and drinks |
| Cempasúchil (marigolds) | Their bright color and scent are believed to guide spirits home |
| Calaveras (sugar skulls) | Colorful decorations, often with names written on them |
| Pan de muerto | Sweet “bread of the dead,” decorated with bone shapes |
| Papel picado | Cut-paper banners |
| Cemetery visits | Families clean and decorate graves, sometimes staying all night |
Some ofrendas also include traditional dishes such as mole.
La Catrina
The elegant skeleton lady, La Catrina, was created by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada around 1910 to mock Mexicans who imitated European fashions. Artist Diego Rivera later made her famous, and she’s now a symbol of the holiday.
Day of the Dead vs Halloween
| Day of the Dead | Halloween | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | November 1–2 | October 31 |
| Origin | Indigenous Mexican and Catholic | Celtic Samhain and Christian traditions |
| Mood | Remembering and celebrating loved ones | Spooky fun, costumes and candy |
See what Halloween is. The 2017 Pixar film Coco introduced the holiday to audiences worldwide.
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