Dia de los muertos

Day of the Dead, also known as Día de Muertos in Spanish is holiday with roots in ancient Mesoamerican cultures, particularly the Aztec people, where they celebrated and honored deceased ancestors, this is a special time when family members from the afterlife reunite with loved ones in the living world.  Although it’s widely  celebrated in Mexico, it's become more popular over the years in other regions of Latin America and the United States. One of the most common traditions of this holiday is the ofrenda, or altar, for past family members. These ofrendas are usually adorned with all types of items — food, photos, personal items, Day of the Dead flowers — to welcome past family members after their long journey. Plus, there are tons of other traditions associated with this holiday that include sugar skulls, dressing like La Catrina and more!

When is Day of the Dead?

Although families prepare days in advance, Day of the Dead is celebrated during November 1 and   November 2. The first day is dedicated to children who passed away and is called Día de los  Angelitos. Families often create an ofrenda that is adorned with the child’s favorite candies, toys and their photos. The following day is called Día de los Difuntos which is for the adults. They also have an altar that is decorated, often with pan de muerto (bread of the dead), other favorite items and of course, their photos.