Know Before You Go: Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico

One of Mexico’s most significant cultural festivals, millions of people come together to celebrate these special days of remembrance. Day of the Dead originated with the indigenous Mexicans who held month-long celebrations honoring the dead and their ancestors. The current version of Dia de Muertos is a combination of All Souls Day, brought over by the Spanish invaders, and ancient Aztec traditions.

Day of the Dead is celebrated each year on November 1 and 2—Día de los Angelitos and Día de los Difuntos, respectively—and coincides with the Roman Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Most people, who celebrate Day of the Dead by holding graveside vigils, will arrive weeks in advance to begin cleaning the headstones in the cemeteries. From there, they’ll sit with their deceased ancestors from the night of October 31 onwards.

You can also expect to see the country begin to carpet itself with cempasuchiles (Mexican marigolds), calacas (skeletons), and Catrinas (sugar skulls) from mid-October onwards. Add to that, you’ll encounter plenty of parades, markets, and Day of the Dead–themed events, often taking place prior to the official dates.

While celebrations are held throughout the country, Mexico’s most famous Day of the Dead celebrations occur in the country's central and southern stretches, particularly Mexico City, Oaxaca, and the Yucatán Peninsula.

Mexico City’s Day of the Dead Celebrations: For a wealth of interesting events, massive public altars, and major parades—including the Spectre-inspired Desfile de Día de Muertos—head to Mexico City, where Day of the Dead is celebrated with a bang. And for cemeteries, the nearby town of San Andrés Mixquic is also well known for its poignant celebrations, including a midnight candlelit vigil in the cemetery.

Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead Celebrations: Oaxaca’s festivities are equally legendary, with street parades, costumed participants, and an embarrassment of riches when it comes to some of the country’s most delicious seasonal cuisine. Oaxaca is located in southern Mexico, about a 5.5-hour drive or an hour-long flight from Mexico City.

Isla Janitzio: Then there are the popular celebrations held on Isla Janitzio in the middle of Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, about a 4.5-hour drive west from Mexico City. To get here, you'll need to take a ferry from the town of Pátzcuaro. Once on the island, expect to find moving graveside vigils, delicious food, and much more—it's a particularly unique celebration, as the island is considered a gateway to heaven. It's also rich in indigenous traditions, thanks to the large Purépecha population.

Day of the Dead in Mexico is celebrated in a variety of ways, depending on the community and culture. However, there are some common elements in most celebrations.

Ofrendas (Altars): Altar building takes center stage throughout the country, as colorful ofrendas are dedicated to the dead. Expect to see fluttering, delicate papel picado (paper bunting), dainty sugar skulls, lit candles, cempasuchiles (Mexican marigolds), and other personal effects, from photographs to meaningful objects. You may also smell copal incense, which is often burned at ofrendas.

Graveside vigils: Cemetery visits are another popular way to mark the special day, as family members spend the night at the tombs of their deceased loved ones, lighting candles and preparing ofrendas to guide the deceased back into the land of the living for the celebrations.

Day of the Dead food: Food is another important element of Day of the Dead in Mexico. Look out for a wealth of pan de muerto (literally “dead bread”), which differs in shape, size, flavor, and taste from region to region. The orange-flavored, sugar-dusted version is one of the most well-known and popular though.

Calaveras and calacas (skulls and skeletons): Finally, pay special attention to the number of calaveras and calacas dotted about the place. While these spooky-to-some figures have always had their place in Day of the Dead celebrations, they also recall the satirical illustration of La Catrina garbancera by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada, one now intimately linked to the season. Calaveras and calacas are represented in many different ways, from skull makeup to sugar skulls (which are decorative and not be eaten!).

• Why do Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead? Día de los Muertos is derived from indigenous traditions and honors deceased loved ones, celebrating their lives. It's a sort of family reunion that brings together both the living and the dead.
• How do you celebrate Day of the Dead? Day of the Dead is most commonly celebrated with the building of altars, graveside vigils, and grand parades and parties honoring the dead.
• What are the symbols of Day of the Dead? Some of the common symbols of Day of the Dead include calaveras and calacas (skulls and skeletons), as well as alebrijes (animal figures).
• What other countries celebrate Day of the Dead? Many Latin American countries celebrate Day of the Dead, including Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Belize, Bolivia, and Brazil. Mexican populations within other countries will also celebrate the holiday.
• What is some common Day of the Dead food? Common foods eaten on Day of the Dead include pan de muerto, tamales, pozole, and mole negro.