People dressing up as skeletons, huge parades, and candy! You might think Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, was just like Halloween but this Latin American holiday has a far different meaning.
Celebrated November 1st and 2nd of each year, Dia de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and honor family and friends who have passed away. People share stories about their departed loved ones and attend community-wide parades and festivals. Many also create home altars, called ofrendas, memorializing and celebrating the deceased, eat special foods like pan de muerto and calaveras, and decorate family graves and memorials.
With its roots in ancient Mayan culture, and most commonly observed in Mexico, this holiday incorporates a mix of Pre-Colonial Indigenous traditions and Roman Catholic practices. Growing in popularity globally and across the United States in recent years, Dia de los Muertos is a way for families to work through grief and heal together while embracing the memory of loved ones no longer with us.
Learn more about the origin of Dia de los Muertos and how it is celebrated today with the resources, crafts and activities below.
