Popularized globally by Hollywood in films like “Coco” and the James Bond franchise, Día de Muertos is a centuries-old tradition that has roots in Indigenous culture.
Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is one of the most important celebrations in Mexico, with roots dating back thousands of years, long before Spanish settlers arrived. It has become a blend of Catholic tradition and Mexican mysticism, commemorating death as another element of life and as a way to remember and honor loved ones. In bustling markets, stalls sell decorated skulls made of sugar or chocolate, while tissue paper, cut into delicate shapes, adorns stores and restaurants. In houses all over the country, families carefully place photographs of their ancestors on an altar beside candles and a traditional Mexican pastry, as incense fills the air. In flower shops, freshly cut marigolds line the storefronts. The holiday is a rich and complex tradition that has increasingly infiltrated popular culture the world over. It is observed on Nov.2, when all souls of the dead are believed to return to the world of the living. But the celebration typically begins on Oct.28, with each day dedicated to a different kind of death: people who died in accidents or children who died before being baptized, for example. All Saint’s Day, on Nov.1, honors anyone who led a pure life, particularly children. It is primarily a Mexican tradition, but other Catholic countries around the world also honor the deceased. In the Philippines, relatives visit the graves of the dead, bringing flowers and lighting candles.
