Mexico History: Dia de los Muertos

Celebrating the dead may sound like an oxymoron to some people, but in Mexico it makes for one of the most elaborate celebrations of the year.

Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that falls on the first two days of November. It aligns with the Christian All Souls Day and All Saints Day and for this reason it is sometimes referred to as Todos Santos.

This holiday is to celebrate the loved ones who have passed away. Day of the Dead altars, called ofrendas, are made and decorated by family members with things like flowers, food, toys, bread, candles, incense, pictures, and figures made out of sugar. It is believed that the soul of the people who passed away come and visit the household, enjoying the things on the altars as they did in life. The souls of the children come first and then the souls of the adults.

When the souls of the loved ones return, candles are lit to light to their return, clothes are put out to replace those that may have been worn out during the year, and food and drink is there to quench the year's hunger and thirst. Things that held special value to the person during their lifetime are also put on the altars.

Family members and friends of the deceased visit these altars and the household provides traditional Mexican food for them while they visit.

Dia de los Muertos is a very important holiday in Mexico; most businesses and schools are closed. It is a time to be with your family and friends.

While a lot of Dia de los Muertos is spent in the home, the last day of the holiday is spent attending mass and then decorating the cemeteries. Members of the community often parade down to the cemeteries.


Visiting Mexico during the Dead of the Dead is a great way see the culture in Mexico. The Alfeñique fair, or la feria del Alfeñique, in Toluca sells sugar skulls and other figurines in preparation for Dia de Los Muertos. These skulls show the skill and creativity that goes into Day of the Dead art. The marketplace is open in October through the begining of November.

When visiting Day of the Dead celebrations, it is important to remember that each region and town has their own customs.

Great places to see parades, comparsas, and other festivities are:

Mixquic: A town just outside of Mexico City. While close to the city, it still has a traditional feel.
Oaxaca: The city itself has a large parade and the villiages outside of the town have many markets where people can buy the things they need to decorate their ofrenda.
Janitzio: It's a small island off in Patzcuaro Lake that has an elaborate celebration, including music, food, and boats with torches out in the lake.
Merida: This town on the Yucatan Pennisula has a public plaza where all different groups come and build their altars. It's a great site to see!

A great book to check out is The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico by Chloë Sayer and Elizabeth Carmichael.

For more about Mexico, visit All About Mexico.

Been to Day of the Dead in Mexico? Tell us about it!

By: Cara Gourley