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What is Day of the Dead? A celebration of the dead and the living

Written by ABC AUDIO on November 3, 2022

According to tradition, on the Day of the Dead the heavens open, and departed souls return to earth, briefly.

Every year, Mexicans gather in cemeteries to remember their departed family members, in a celebration that is the country’s most important fiesta. According to tradition, the heavens open, and the souls of the dead come back to earth.

Here is everything you need to know about the Day of the Dead:

What is the Day of the Dead?
It is not just one day. In fact, it’s a two-day celebration that is traditionally observed on November 1 and 2, where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drinks and even toys at altars, all of which serve to entice the souls on holiday to visit.

It is marked as a celebration rather than a sombre affair, a time when the living and the dead are believed to connect.

“This is a celebration. The sadness is there when our relatives died, but during this day, we have to show them that we remember them with happiness,” Yoroslay Delgado told Al Jazeera.

“We dance, we sing – they need to feel they are welcome.”

The festivities could also start on October 28, depending on the location, and some places observe the day on November 6.

Who celebrates the Day of the Dead?
It is a national holiday in Mexico, but it is also celebrated throughout Latin America, Spain, the Philippines and parts of the United States.

How did the celebration originate?
The celebration is believed to be a pre-Hispanic tradition that came from Indigenous communities dating back thousands of years.

For the Aztecs, death was transitory, and souls could come back and visit. According to some analysts, after the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, those traditions were melded into the Catholic calendar and are now celebrated to coincide with All Souls’ Day.

How is the day celebrated?
In many parts of Mexico, families will spend November 1 remembering the children, often referred to as “angelitos” (little angels), decorating their gravesites with toys and balloons. On November 2, they will celebrate All Souls day, dedicated to adults who have died.

Families create “ofrendas” (altars) on the graves of their loved ones. They also use cempasuchil flowers (marigolds), as these are believed to help lead spirits back from the cemetery to their family’s homes.

Others write short, satirical poems, also known as “calaveras” (skulls), which are epitaphs of friends that describe their interesting habits and are peppered with funny anecdotes.

The skull, which represents the cyclicity of life, is a predominant symbol of the day. Sugar or chocolate skulls can be given as gifts to both the living and the dead. Also popular is pan de muerto, a bread made in different shapes, often decorated with white frosting to represent the image of twisted bones.

How are the altars (ofrendas) built?
The altars are an important element during the celebration as they show the souls the way home, while they also include elements that honour and please the departed.

The altars usually include photos of the visitors. They can have two levels to symbolise heaven and earth, a third level to represent purgatory or seven levels to the steps to go to heaven.

The altars include a representation of the four elements. Water is meant to satisfy the thirst of those visiting; fire burning in candles whose light guides the deceased’s spirit; earth is present in food and other items that are special for the dead; and air is represented by colourful paper cut into designs .

Some altars include salt, which is believed to help those departing during the afterlife journey.

What is the Day of the Dead? Meaning behind the festival explained and when it is celebrated

While Halloween began to ward off spirits, the Day of the Dead celebrates the lives of loved ones no longer around

While Halloween is widely known and celebrated all over the world, it is by no means the only festival taking place at this time of year.

Thanks in part to its eye-catching face painting and costumes, awareness of the Day of the Dead has soared in recent years – and it’s far more than simply a “Mexican Halloween”.

As a Google marks the festival with a special commemorative Doodle in the UK, USA, Mexico and beyond, here’s everything you need to know about the Day of the Dead.

What does the Day of the Dead mean?
The Day of the dead, or Dia de Los Muertos – as it is known in Spanish – is a multi-day holiday during which families and friends honour the dead with vigils and offerings of food, flowers and prayer.

Although the event is synonymous with Mexico, many countries in Latin America also mark the festival, while migrant Mexican communities celebrate it all over the world.

Halloween – originating from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain – began to ward off spirits, while the Day of the Dead celebrates the lives of loved ones no longer around.

Its traditions originated thousands of years ago from Mexico’s indigenous cultures, and the Aztec and Mexica beliefs that the souls of dead could visit the living – it was turned into a holiday by Spanish settlers in the 16th century.

An important part of Day of the Dead involves families visiting the cemetery and spending time at the graves of loved ones.

There, they build graveyard altars – known as “ofrendas” – and adorn the shrine with marigolds, colourful crafts – known as “papel picado” – and personal items, and favourite foods of the deceased.

They also place photos of the deceased on the altars, as well as candles to guide them home.

Day of the Dead celebrations often spill out on streets with a number of street parties and parades taking place. It is a joyous time, despite being focused on death.

Participants will don colourful costumes and paint their faces, often as intricate skulls mimicking Calavera Catrina, an early 1900’s cartoon that has become synonymous with death.

Recent years have seen the rise of Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade, which follows a specific theme each year, and is complete with floats, marionettes and hundreds of performers.

The huge march came about as a way for tourists to experience the festival for themselves while allowing locals a platform to celebrate together.

How long does the Day of the Dead last?
Day of the Dead traditionally begins on 1 November and ends on 2 November. These dates coincide with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day respectively.

However, in some regions it is also celebrated on other days, such as 31 October (the date of Halloween) and 6 November .

The first day of the holiday – “Dia de Los Angelitos” (Day of the Little Angels) – is dedicated to honouring dead children, while celebrations shift the following day to pay tribute to the lives of departed adults.

The festival is not the only one to celebrate the lives of the departed – there are others around the world that use All Souls’ Day to commemorate the dead – but it is unique in its traditions.

Glasgow festival inspired Mexico’s Day of the Dead to take place

Always and Forever: To Absent Friends is being organised by Friends of Southern Necropolis, who have transformed the South Side graveyard with regular clean-ups, historical events and community activities.

Colin Mackie, founder of FoSN, explained: “Everyone has a story to tell of someone who is dead who they miss, but talking openly about this can often cause discomfort or embarrassment, and people can struggle to know what to say around someone who is bereaved.

The event takes place on Sunday, November 6, from 12 noon until 2pm at the cemetery on Caledonia Road.

People are encouraged to bring along family photos, share stories, songs and memories of those they have lost.

The festival, which started in 2014 and is inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, aims to combat stigma around grieving and encourage communities to support active remembrance of the deceased without discomfort or embarrassment, no matter how long ago they passed.

Colin added: “The event will allow people from the G5 community, Oatlands and the Gorbals the chance to exchange experiences, and sign messages of remembrance and tributes on laminated hearts which they can then hang on the Always and Forever tree at the Franciscan Circle area.

“We are really proud to be part of this special festival again, accompanied by our good friends Strum for Life.”

The Southern Necropolis was established in July 1840, and is the final resting place of many of the merchants, traders, shipbuilders and architects who helped make Glasgow world famous.

Noted inhabitants include architects Alexander Greek Thomson and Charles Wilson, and grocery entrepreneur Sir Thomas Lipton.

Day of the Dead 2022: Mexico’s Dias de los Muertos traditions explained – and how to celebrate respectfully

The influence of Day of the Dead has spread beyond its origins in Mexico – here’s how to mark it with respect for the ancient traditions

Rooted deep in the heart of Mexican culture and enjoyed throughout the world, Día de los Muertos, which translates to ‘Day of the Dead’ in English, celebrates the joyous reunion between the living and the souls of the deceased.

On Day of the Dead 2022, Esteban Touma, teacher and content producer at Babbel Live, explains what Día de los Muertos actually signifies, how it differs from Halloween, and shares insight into honouring this sacred celebration.

Día de los Muertos is ultimately a celebration of life, both for the living and for loved ones who have passed. The holiday serves as a reminder that life and death are complementary and can joyously coexist, as friends and family gather to remember their loved ones who have passed, reminisce over fond memories, and even make peace with the inevitability of death.

Where and when is Día de los Muertos celebrated?
This Mexican holiday is over one thousand years old, and stems from the ancient Aztecs. Similar celebrations are observed annually all over Latin America, typically on November 1st and 2nd (though celebration dates may fluctuate by region).

Because Día de los Muertos is such an ancient holiday, its traditions and rituals can be traced back to the pre-Hispanic people of Mexico, who savoured the celebrations by drawing them out for an entire month. Ancient festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, also referred to as ‘Lady of the Dead’, who has inspired many symbols that are still prominent today.

One of these prolific symbols are skulls and bones, which were used by early Aztecs’ during Día de los Muertos to honour Mictecacihuatl and those who have passed. Today, Mexican people don skull face paint, masks, and costumes in honour of this long-standing tradition, and the belief that death brought new life and that was part of life’s cyclical journey.

How is Día de los Muertos celebrated?
Día de los Muertos is celebrated by Latinx people all over the world, however the largest celebrations tend to be in Mexico, other areas of Latin America, and the United States. While the 1st and 2nd November are the true dates of this holiday, parades, celebrations, and parties often begin in early October, hence why many people will confuse this holiday as being the Mexican equivalent of Halloween, but, while the celebrations may have common roots in All Saints’ Day, they have very different meaning.

Today, Día de los Muertos utilises many long-standing traditions throughout celebrations, from honouring the deceased with marigold flowers – ‘cempazúchitl’ – to using ‘calaveras’, edible or decorative skulls made from either sugar or clay. Many will build ‘ofrendas’, which are home altars, and visit graves to bring gifts to the dead as an incentive to reunite with their loved ones who are still living.

In urban areas, people take to the street for festive celebrations, with some wearing wooden skull masks known as ‘calacas’. Often, toys and food, including bread and candy in the shape of skulls and skeletons are created as a symbolic gesture to the holiday’s origins.

It is also worth noting that within Mexican culture, the skeletal symbol of death is not viewed as scary, as evidenced by the iconic La Calavera Catrina (‘the skull Catrina’). The entirety of the celebration shows a closeness with one’s deceased relatives on a level that does not exist across many other cultures.

Why is it important not to associate Halloween with Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos is deeply rooted in tradition, family, and embracing the cyclical nature of life. The symbols, clothing, and makeup embraced throughout Día de los Muertos enable these cultural traditions to live on, while allowing new generations to forge their own path throughout the festivities.

Treating the symbols and clothing worn during Día de los Muertos as a costume is a form of cultural appropriation. However, should you be interested in learning about Latinx culture, many local Latinx groups throw celebrations where you can appropriately show your appreciation for Latinx culture.

How to celebrate Día de los Muertos respectfully:
Don’t wear symbols associated with Día de los Muertos as Halloween costumes. Do wear them if you’re respectfully celebrating and showing appreciation for the holiday and its meaning.

Do embrace Latinx culture. Be sure to enjoy traditional food and drink, such as mole, a traditional dish with many regional variations and Atole (a drink associated with Día de los Muertos), as these dishes serve as a huge part of Mexican identity, even dating back to pre-Hispanic Mexico. Listen and dance to modern and traditional Latinx music, and seek out books, podcasts and museum exhibitions on Latinx culture, to better connect with the rich culture and history this region has to offer.

Don’t change the way you speak, or the colour of your skin, when embracing this holiday and culture. Do, however, try your hand at Spanish! Learn simple greetings like ‘¡Hola, espero que estés bien!’, and common expressions, such as ‘salud’ if you are giving a toast and ‘buen provecho’ when sharing a meal, to help ensure you have a memorable and culturally enriched experience whilst honouring the holiday.

Strictly not Halloween: why Day of the Dead is misunderstood – and why that matters

Known in Spanish as Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead is commonly celebrated every year on November 1 and 2. Although the ritual “belongs” to Mexico, it is in fact a global phenomenon celebrated across Latin America, the US, Europe, Asia and Africa by migrant Mexican communities.

With its Mesoamerican, Roman Catholic and pagan roots, this deeply religious celebration sees families gather annually to honour and commemorate their loved ones. They build altars and parade the streets dressed as skeletons or Catrinas – the “grand lady of the afterlife” – and bake sugar skulls and “bread of the dead”.

But the Day of the Dead is commonly misunderstood in some countries, including the UK, where the perception is that this highly important ritual is simply a Mexican version of Halloween.

My work looks at the way Day of the Dead is viewed and consumed in the UK and Ireland, and how Mexican communities celebrate their customs there. The UK has a Mexican community of around 10,000 people and although not all participate, many will celebrate Day of the Dead from Fife and Dublin, to London and Southampton, as an important way of connecting with each other, and Mexico. The event is a valuable way for Mexicans to foster pride in their cultural heritage, celebrate difference and inclusivity – and showcase how the festivity is not a Mexican Halloween.

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In Bournemouth for example, the Mexican community has organised public street events welcoming the wider community by building community altars, offering delicious orange blossom “bread of the dead” and by dancing special folkloric Day of the Dead dances.

Elisa Ponce, founder of the Mexicans in Bournemouth community, and co-founder of the folkloric dance group Colores Mexicanos, which is comprised of Mexican and Latin American women, mothers and daughters, sees their local Day of the Dead celebrations as vital for community cultural pride:

Such events create a sense of belonging by passing down cultural heritage from one generation to the next, and raising awareness in the broader public.

The ‘Halloweenisation’ of a Mexican custom
As my previous research shows, interest in all things Mexican has been growing steadily in the UK due to tourism, the media and Day of the Dead events organised by Mexican communities in Britain.

Even though many British people are aware that Day of the Dead is not a Mexican Halloween, the so-called “Halloweenisation” of the practice is still widespread. The two may share similar Catholic origins, but the former has lost its religious roots and is now merely a commercialised phenomenon.

Besides retailers and the media, Day of the Dead’s Halloweenisation has been fuelled by Hollywood movies such as Bond film Spectre (2015) with its Day of the Dead parade, and, to a point, Coco (2018) the Pixar animation about a young Mexican boy who ends up in the land of the dead.

The festival has undergone a worldwide cultural transformation due to globalisation and the internet-based world we live in, which can have a bulldozing effect on individual cultures. This has led to Day of the Dead becoming divested of its local roots and religious meanings, and turned into an object of mass consumerism.

During Halloween, Day of the Dead costumes and accessories have become an increasingly familiar sight in UK shops. With their striking colourful patterns and iconography, it is not difficult to understand the attraction. With British retailers selling Halloween costumes and decorations interchangeably with Day of the Dead items, it’s no wonder that the public may perceive the Mexican practice as simply an extension of Halloween.

Strictly confusing
Still, this Halloweenisation of the Day of the Dead has resulted in fierce debates about whether this is cultural appropriation, capturing polarised opinions spanning allegations of offensive misappropriation to celebrations of cultural fusion.

Nowhere is this response better exemplified than when the Mexican celebration was appropriated by the ever-popular BBC dancing programme, Strictly Come Dancing. In 2018 its Halloween episode featured a colourful Day of the Dead-themed opening dance performance with mariachi singers, sombreros, papier mâche skeletons and dancers donning sexy Catrina dresses and alluring skeleton make-up.

A row followed, with the media picking up on the mixed responses to the controversial performance. The Huffington Post for example reported the performance being blasted for cultural appropriation and featured several tweets from unhappy viewers who found it “racist” and “offensive”.

But others praised the show’s celebration of cultural heritage and its fusion of Halloween, Day of the Dead and the movie Coco, with some drawing delighted comparisons with the popular film that has given prominence to Day of the Dead. Such comparisons suggest that some believe the ritual is based on a film rather than a Mexican religious practice, fuelling further misconceptions of Day of the Dead as “another Halloween”.

With the Mexican community in the UK playing an important role in contributing to the local economy, culture and society, more visibility is needed of the Day of the Dead celebration to break with unhelpful racial stereotypes and issues around mislabelling.

This lack of visibility could be addressed by encouraging retailers to rethink how they sell and brand their items. Local councils could promote and fund Day of the Dead events to the wider community by including them in their post-COVOD social and cultural regeneration strategies. And schools could do more to teach children about what the practice is actually about – and why it’s not an extension of Halloween but something culturally distinct underpinned by its own religious history, meaning and rituals.