Mexico's Dia de los Muertos: Why Remembering the Dead Is a Celebration

Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is one of the best-known festivals of remembrance in the world. It is often misunderstood as a Mexican version of Halloween. It is not. This article explains what it is and where it comes from. Traditions vary by region and by family.

What is Día de los Muertos?

A holiday for honoring dead loved ones. NBC Boston reports that it is celebrated in Mexico and Central America on November 1 and 2. NBC Boston lists traditions that include building private altars, called ofrendas, to honor the deceased. A public-library guide says that by tradition the spirits of children return to their families around October 31 and November 1, and those of adults on November 2.

Where did it come from?

From a mix of traditions. NBC Boston, citing the Smithsonian, says it originated in ancient Mesoamerica, where Indigenous groups including the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec had set times to commemorate the dead. After the Spanish arrived, the rituals became intertwined with two Catholic holy days: All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2. A Lone Star College guide says the original holiday became assimilated with these feast days.

What goes on an ofrenda?

Objects that connect the living with the dead. The University of New Mexico’s glossary describes marigolds, called cempasúchil, as a common feature because their strong scent is believed to guide the dead back, and copal incense is used for the same reason. The Santa Barbara Independent adds that an ofrenda typically includes a late relative’s photograph, favorite foods and drinks, candles, and beloved personal items. Pan de muerto, a sweet bread, and sugar skulls are traditional.

Is it Mexican Halloween?

No. NBC Boston says the two holidays are sometimes confused because they fall at the same time of year and because of the skull images, but they are not related. Día de los Muertos is a time to remember and welcome family members who have died.

Is it only about sadness?

No. A Wikipedia-derived summary notes that it is not solely focused on the dead: people also give friends sugar skulls, share pan de muerto, and write light-hearted verses in the form of mock epitaphs, a form called calaveras literarias.

Does it have official recognition?

Yes. In 2008, UNESCO added the tradition to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A public-library guide says UNESCO described it as an “Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead.”

Are there similar festivals elsewhere?

Many. The Lone Star College guide lists Samhain (October 31 to November 1), Fèt Gede in Haiti (November 1 and 2), a day of the dead in Sicily on November 2, and Pchum Ben in Cambodia. For more, see Death Around the World and Latino Funeral Traditions.