The Day of the Dead

While we celebrate Halloween at the end of October, Mexicans commemorate a completely different, spooky holiday at this time - the Day of the Dead. Learn here why celebrating the dead is such a special tradition for the country and its people.

Men and women adorned with colorful skull face paint parade through the streets of Mexican cities, singing, dancing, and celebrating to honor their deceased. What's this all about? We would like to introduce you to a truly extraordinary tradition: Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead!

In mid-October each year, preparations for a very special festival begin in Mexico as the celebrations for the Mexican Day of the Dead commence on October 31st. A lot of Pulque, the alcoholic national drink of Mexicans, is brewed, bakers create colorful sugar skulls, paper-mâché skeletons are hung throughout the cities, and altars known as Ofrendas are set up. But wait... altars? Skeletons? Colorful skulls? What are Mexicans really celebrating?

The souls of the dead return from the afterlife on this day

The answer: the dead, or rather, the deceased. Because on Dia de los Muertos, Mexican dead take center stage - it's rumored that their souls return from the beyond to their loved ones. This belief leads Mexicans to throw grand parties with delicious food, alcohol, music, and dance to welcome their deceased. The larger and more exuberant the celebration, the more popular the deceased was in their past life. The festivities continue until November 2nd, when the dead must leave their loved ones and return to the afterlife. What sounds strange to us Europeans has a long tradition in Mexico and was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2003. The Day of the Dead is one of the most important holidays in Mexico.

The cult of the dead in Mexico is truly unique. We would like to introduce you to some of the interesting customs of the celebration because we are fascinated by the cheerful way of dealing with death and honoring the deceased.

The relationship with death is very different in Mexico

At the heart of the festival are the Ofrendas, which are richly decorated altars where the guest from the beyond finds everything they need to recharge after their long journey: Pan de Muerto, the bread of the dead, alcohol, a bed for resting, and everything else the deceased loved in life. They are also welcomed with the yellow and orange flowers of the dead, known as Flor de Muertos. The Day of the Dead is celebrated in a very colorful manner. This is also evidenced by the Calaveras de Dulce, the sugar skulls, which are brightly colored and intricately decorated to kindly greet the soul of the deceased.

The cult of the dead in Mexico is truly special. We would like to introduce you to some interesting customs of the celebration because we are really fascinated by the joyful way of dealing with death and honoring the deceased.

The way death is treated in Mexico is quite different

At the heart of the festival, altars are set up, known as Ofrendas, which are richly decorated altars where the guest from the afterlife finds everything they need to recharge: Pan de Muerto, the bread of the dead, alcohol, a resting place, and all other things the deceased enjoyed in life. They are also welcomed with the yellow and orange flowers of the dead, known as Flor de Muertos. The Day of the Dead is celebrated in a very colorful manner, noticeable in the Calaveras de Dulce, the sugar skulls, which are brightly colored and richly decorated to kindly greet the soul of the departed.

Colorful skeletons, depicted in all sorts of life situations, line the streets, and La Catrina, the most famous skeleton, can be seen on every corner. During the celebrations, there is much dancing and singing, celebrating the presence of the beloved deceased until the guest is accompanied back to the afterlife at midnight on November 2nd. Symbolically, Mexicans go to the cemetery, continue the celebration there, and say goodbye to the dead. Until next year!

The Day of the Dead is celebrated slightly differently all over Mexico. If you feel inspired to witness this special celebration and participate in one of Mexico's largest holidays, we recommend a visit to the city of Oaxaca, where the tradition is celebrated particularly magnificently.

In advance, competitions are held in schools to create and award the best altar. All artworks are then displayed throughout the city during the festivities. It seems like all of Oaxaca is covered in the orange flowers of the dead. A feast for the eyes! Additionally, a huge Day of the Dead market is held in the city, where you can find everything from decorations for the altars to other colorful items. There are plenty of great hotels in Oaxaca, so you better book quickly, as this travel period is of course very popular with travelers from all over the world.

In the city of Aguascalientes in Central Mexico, a festival is held each year in honor of the dead. The Festival de las Calaveras, or the Festival of the Skulls, features various artists performing, traditional Mexican food, and a grand parade. The festival typically takes place between the end of October and mid-November. How fitting, as this is also the best time to visit Mexico. Special festivities are also held in the capital of Yucatan, Merida, where the Day of the Dead is called 'Festival of Souls.' A special dish with chicken is prepared, enjoyed by both the living and the dead. Of course, the Day of the Dead is celebrated in markets and especially in all cemeteries here.

We are fascinated by the traditions and customs surrounding the Day of the Dead in Mexico. You can easily connect a trip to Dia de los Muertos with a vacation in Mexico - escaping the cold fall weather in the United States and after the festivities, enjoying more vacation destinations in Mexico. Has anyone of you been in Mexico during this time and experienced the Day of the Dead up close? Share your experiences in the comments!