I’ve just returned from two amazing weeks in Mexico, and everywhere I went, everyone was preparing for “Dia De Los Muertos”–the Day of the Dead, a national holiday celebrated each year on November 1-2 throughout Mexico, as well as many parts of Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and now regions in the US and Canada where you may find a significant number of Catholic Mexican immigrants who honour All Saints and All Souls Days in the Mexican tradition.
Even when I’d visited Mexico in May, I saw an abundance of Day of the Dead imagery and things you could buy. But come late October, the festivities kick into high gear and Dia De Los Muertos seems to be on the mind of everyone!
I learned from speaking to many Mexican friends that the celebration focuses on gathering with friends and family to pray for and remember those who have passed. It is not the morbid festival I had mistakenly thought. It is in effect, a perpetual celebration of life!
Bright colours, smiling skulls, and innately adorned skeletons can be found hanging from trees, tucked into greenery and gardens, and everywhere else. There are parades and festivities, private and public. You celebrate as you choose to. But everyone participates and everyone feels refreshed by the celebrations. If someone passed and you didn’t have time or the opportunity to say goodbye, Dia de los Muertos gives you the chance to do so. If someone has passed and you parted without clearing away negative thoughts, the Day of the Dead gives you the chance to make amends.
Alters can be found everywhere adorned with candles, baked goods, fruits, alcohol, sugar skulls, and other sweets. I actually found it to be quite invigorating to witness the rising spirit of the people as they prepared for the celebrations in their own way.
If you’ve never been to Mexico during this time, I would highly recommend it! Learning about, experiencing, and sharing local customs really does help you gain a better understanding of any country. Have you been part of any Dia de los Muertos celebrations? If so, please tell us about it.
Lately i have started liking everything about Maxico. It has much more to offer. Thankks for this post.
Indeed. I’ve developed a much better understanding and great respect for Mexico after having done these two research trips this year that took me off the beaten path and gave me much greater insight into the people of Mexico.
I saw another post like this but in L.A. I still find this festival creepy and beautiful all at once.
I hear you, Evan. I, too, had the creeps about the Dia de los Muertos festival. But after a friend explained how it enabled him to feel close to his departed other and give her the opportunity to leave this plane if she so chose, I could better understand the purpose and intended meaning.
Day of the Dead is one of the most fascinating traditions in the world, isn’t it? I’d love to see it for myself one day. Really loved some of the art-work you managed to capture here 🙂
Hi Sanket: Yes, I had no idea how widely spread the Day of the Dead celebrations range, but it does seem to be one of the most intriguing festivals you will find in any Spanish speaking country.
Wait, I don’t get it. Were you there during the Dia los muertos? If you were, I am totally jealous! It would be amazing to witness this in Mexico!
Hi Trisha: I just missed the actual Dia de los Muertos as I had already spent 2 weeks travelling MX just prior to that and I had to get home. But I could certainly get the spirit and understand the meaning of the celebration having spoken to several Mexican friends about it while there. Someday I will return to fully experience the Day of the Dead!
This is very nice event, so much like here in the Philippines whenever we celebrate all souls and saints day. Mexico and Philippines really have a lot of things in common:)
Hi Cai. I would like to experience this type of festival in the Philippines. I know how much the Philippinos love to dance and celebrate.
Dia De Los Muertos has really exploded all over the world, but I bet you can’t beat being in Mexico for the real deal! I’d be all over those baked goods! Move over sugar candy skulls, I want the real sweet deal!
Uhlala! Mexico, I can’t wait for the time that I can say, Mexico I’m coming! Butttt, it has to wait. Great post dear, will keep this on my bookmark list for when I get to see MExico!
Thanks for your enthusiastic comment, Mary. I do think that Mexico is the kind of destination that has something for everyone, whether you’re most interested in history and culture, culinary diversions, shopping, nature excursions, or just sitting on the beach.
I have never seen it in Mexico but abroad the face paint of some people is truly stunning
Hi Mar: Yes, I was amazed at the intricacies of the face paint that some people were wearing in celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Wearable works of art!
Remember dia de los muertos vividly because I went to see the government that time of the year. What I didn’t see though, or have forgotten, are sweets made especially for that day.
Hi Catarina: Indeed, the markets I visited and the chocolate shops I visited all had special Dia de los Muertos sweets and offerings. Xocodiva, my favourite chocolate shop in Puerto Vallarta, even had tiny chocolate coffins filled with decadent chocolate bonbons. Very creative!
I have a feeling you’d really enjoy it, Elizabeth. The culinary offerings in Mexico are always full of creativity and surprises! And during the Day of the Dead celebrations, creativity is definitely at the forefront.
I love the pictures. So colourful. I bet it would be a good time to visit Mexico. I might have to pencil it into my calendar.
Ah Mexico, you know how much we love that place!!
What an amazing time to be there, now I’m just itching to get back!
It’s amazing how the imagery of this has now become so mainstream.
The amount of kids I saw this Halloween (thanks to Facebook, there were no trick or treaters in Szeged, Hungary) dressed in Day of the Dead costumes was staggering!
Hi Chris and thx for your comment. Yes, there has been a definite Halloween invasion into Mexico. I actually saw decorated plastic pumpkins for sale! And the reverse is true. With so many Hispanics living throughout North America, the lines between Halloween and Day of the Dead have truly been blurred and the imagery for both is now very similar.
I love the first photo, Sugarskull!! Very colorful and artistic decorations. I wish I can visit Mexico and experience their traditions and festivals.
Thanks, Karrie. Yes, Mexico is a very dynamic country to visit. It’s people are filled with pride for their history and traditions.
I caught the day of the dead in Spain a few years ago and it was so cool! My birthday is Halloween so naturally love all this kind of stuff.
Love this festival. Its such a great thing to celebrate lives past.
PS: Recently received some rather delicious chocolates for my birthday in a day of the dead theme box… bit weird but I thought of you, Doreen. Because of the chocolate, not the day of the dead 😉
Brilliant read, as ever!
Thanks, James. For your comment, and for thinking of me! My friend Charlotte who owns Xocodiva Chocolates in Puerto Vallarta gave me a Day of the Dead chocolate coffin filled with delicious chocolate bonbons. Loved it! Do you remember what company makes the DOD-themed chocolates you were eating?
Great article Doreen. I recently spent about a week around Oaxaca and was there to celebrate the Day-of-the-Dead. What I found most interesting was the big “party” atmosphere around the graveyards at night where people were having a feast and leaving behind tons and tons of flowers! What an amazing country, Mexico.
Thanks so much for your comment. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of visiting Oaxaca, but I know they have a strong connection to chocolate and moles. That is probably the only place I must still visit on my exploration of ‘authentic Mexico.’
Thx to Jeannette, Susan, Kathy, and Suzanne for your latest comments. I appreciate them greatly and am glad you enjoyed the pics. Much more to come on Mexico. Stay tuned!
Doreen — I had never heard of The Day of the Dead.How interesting and I love your photos. When I first started reading your post, I thought it was a holiday like our Halloween but it obviously isn’t. So glad you had such a great trip!
The Day of the Dead is huge in California and widely celebrated as you can imagine with the number of immigrants from Mexico we have. I’ve always loved the colorful decorations they use for this holiday. And the thought behind the holiday is a wonderful one.
Lovely photos Doreen, and one of my fav. holidays. It’s obviously much better to celebrate it in Mexico, but the community where I live also had a big celebration on Sunday, with a procession and life size puppets, which unfortunately i missed!!! grrr. But the stores have icons and altars all for Dia de los Muertos. Such a great concept to celebrate life rather than just mourn lost loved ones.
I never liked all the skeletons and skulls I associated with the Day of the Dead festival – it almost felt like Halloween. But the focus on remembering loved ones who have passed on? — now that’s something I can be interested in!
Hi Tami and thx for your comment. I think that talking to the locals about the meaning behind what we may perceive as bizarre festivals often helps us better understand them.
My best friend is an absolute fan of Dia de los Muertos. She’s in no way Mexican or Hispanic and as far as I know, she may never even have visited Mexico, but she collects DdlM gadgets like you wouldn’t believe. Her favorite color is orange so maybe there’s also a connection between the vivid orange colors that are favored in the Mexican palate and her fixation on DdlM. Love your photos in this post, Doreen.
Thx, Linda. I, toop, love orange and the other vivid colours that are prominent in the Mexican palette. I felt very at home with the colour and vibrancy of the culture.
Sounds very cool. I’d love to see it in person sometime.
Absolutely beautiful photos! Looked like you really enjoyed yourself. In Texas, we would learn about Dia De Los Muertos in some of our classes. We would do all sorts of art projects. It was certainly fun. Eventually we will head down to Mexico.
Thanks for your comment, Jennifer, and welcome to my blog! I love how we all bring different cultural experiences to the table for discussion. I imagine things are very different in the classrooms these days, as our society is so multi-cultural in nature. In Canada, where I live, there are people from every possible race and religion, so I’m sure the kids learn about important cultural events such as Dia De Lost Muertos — either from their fellow students, or as part of the new curriculum.
I think it would be very interesting to visit Mexico during Day of the Dead celebrations. When I first encountered Day of the Dead decorations for sale, I thought they and the holiday seemed a bit morbid, but as I learn more about the holiday I’m coming to see it more as a celebration.
Right on, Donna. I think it takes having someone local explain it to you, as I had a Mexican friend explain the celebration to me and it took on an entirely different perspective to what I had previously thought.
I would definitely love to experience a Day of the Dead celebration. I have some year round decorations I’ve collected over the years, but especially some things from Sante Fe.
Hi Jeri: Yes, any US destinations with a large Hispanic population are likely to celebrate the Day of the Dead. I haven’t been to Sante Fe for a very long time. Time to revisit!
this is something I should definitely experience at least once.
Agreed, Justine. I wish I could have stayed for the entire festival, but I had to get home. But at least I got a very good sense of the excitement, and the significance of the event.
I’ve never been in Mexico before but I love every single thing about that country. Their costumes and traditions, the food and the people. I would love to go to Mexico by this time of the year to experience that. It must have been amazing!
Hello, Marta. Yes, my 2 trips this year have rekindled my love for Mexico. I’d made many trips years ago, but then there was a lull for the past 10-15 years as I discovered other new to me destinations. Mexico is definitely back on my radar!