Celebrating Life on Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) — a holiday that celebrates and honors deceased loved ones — occurs each year on the first and second of November. Originating over 3,000 years ago, Día de los Muertos honors the lives of loved ones and invites the dead to leave the spirit realm and visit the living world.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday rooted in Indigenous culture. It celebrates and honors the lives of deceased loved ones. Nov. 1 is set aside to remember the lives of children who have died, while Nov. 2 is used to honor adults.

Indigenous Mesoamericans viewed death as part of life’s natural cycle. They believed that the living should celebrate the old life of a loved one, building the foundation of Día de los Muertos.

Dancing, music, food, special activities, and visits to gravesites often take part on Día de los Muertos. Families and friends welcome loved ones back into the living world.

Loved ones build ofrendas — or altars — that honor the dead. Ofrendas often hold photographs of the deceased and items that celebrate their lives. Elements of water, wind, earth, and fire typically find space on ofrendas, as well.

Learning to appreciate and represent cultural celebrations means uplifting the traditions of a community. Instead of highlighting the celebrations of Día de los Muertos as your own discovery or creation, honor the holiday’s history and traditions.

When considering calavera catrina makeup, creating ofrendas, and adorning spaces with marigolds, share your learnings about these traditions with friends and family. Provide opportunities for others to learn about the beauty of Día de los Muertos. Also, despite similar dates, Día de los Muertos and Halloween do not share traditions. The holidays often find themselves problematically and unnecessarily linked.

Thousands of years ago, on the ancient lands of what is now Mexico and Central America, Indigenous people began celebrating and honoring the lives of loved ones who died.

As time passed and colonists took over much of the Mesoamerican lands, Día de los Muertos became its modern-day celebration. The combination of Indigenous traditions, All Souls’ Day, and All Saint’s Day have contributed to the development and evolving cultural interpretation of Día de los Muertos. Celebrated widely across Latin America, the holiday is most commonly connected to Mexican heritage.

As Latino/a populations grow in the United States, connected cultures become an influential part of society. The 2017 production of “Coco” — a Disney animated movie centering on the traditions of Día de los Muertos — highlights the growing popularity of the holiday in the U.S.

Symbols associated with Día de los Muertos play a significant role in uplifting the traditions of the holiday. Each symbol represents a unique quality that enhances the celebration of lives once lived.

Día de los Muertos honors the lives of the people we love. The holiday holds a rich history of traditions and celebrations connecting the spirit and living worlds. Whether you choose to build an ofrenda, attend a parade, or simply take a moment to reflect and honor your loved ones, know that Día de los Muertos offers a powerful opportunity to uplift and celebrate the people you love.