Honour Day of the Dead traditions with Titan’s Mexico tours

So, there’s no better time of year to visit than around the Day of the Dead celebrations at the start of November, for a chance to enjoy centuries-old traditions, get a glimpse into Mexican culture, and discover first-hand what’s involved. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning to honour Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico.

What is Day of the Dead?

Day of the Dead is one of the biggest festivals in Mexico, and also marked in several other Central and South American countries. It combines a celebration of life with time to remember the dead; at its heart is the reminder that life is fleeting and should be enjoyed, as well as a chance to think of those who have died, with music, special food and time spend as a family.

When is Day of the Dead celebrated?

The main festival takes place on November 1 and 2, with the first day focusing on children who have died (usually known as Dia de los Angelitos), and the second remembering adults, known as Dia de los Muertos, or sometimes Dia de los Difuntos.

There are some regional variations, with celebrations starting as early as October 31 – although this is not to be confused with Halloween, which is far less important in Mexico – and can run until November 6.

The original celebrations date back to before the Spanish conquest, when it was marked in August, but has since become mixed with Catholic traditions and coincides with the feast days of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

What to expect during Day of the Dead in Mexico

While you’ll find slightly different regional variations across Mexico, as well as in other parts of Central and South America, the core of Dia de los Muertos stays the same – here’s what to expect.

Celebrations

From around mid-October, Mexicans set up special altars, known as ofrendas, in their homes and businesses, honouring loved ones who have died and representing the place where the person’s spirit will return to. There’s no set design for these, and they can be simple or highly ornate, but each will include a photo of the person and items they enjoyed during their lives, including food, drink (especially tequila) and either a personal possession or something representing their interests. It’s common to add candles, flowers, crucifixes and images of saints too.

On the Day of the Dead itself, families head to graveyards where they’ll clean their relatives graves and decorate them but also spend the day there with a picnic. Many tell stories, sing songs, or enjoy loved ones’ favourite tunes, played by musicians who spend the day in the cemeteries, as well as chatting to those who have died, even introducing new members of the family to them.

Marigolds are common during the festival, both on the ofrendas and on graves, considered the official flower of the dead. Their vivid orange colour and strong scent are thought to attract the souls of the dead, and help lead the spirits back to their homes. You can also expect to see plenty of people dressed as skeletons, representing La Catrina; this high society skeleton was created by a political satirist in the early 1900s, then depicted in a mural by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, and has now become an integral part of the celebrations.

Food

Food is central to Day of the Dead, starting with the favourite dishes of the deceased on ofrendas, often including regional and local specialities. You’ll also find sugar skulls on the altars as well as on gravestones, vibrantly decorated with specific colours and designs relating to the lost loved on. Introduced by Italian missionaries in the 17th century, these have been a key part of Catholic festivals for hundreds of years, but while the skulls are edible, they’re usually purely for decoration.

One food you’ll find everywhere across Mexico is pan de muerto, the bread of the dead. The round loaf of egg-based bread is flavoured with orange, then sprinkled with sugar and bone-shaped decorations, and you’ll find it on sale in the weeks running up to Dia de Muertos to place on altars and to eat.

Events

Along with individual and private celebrations, you’ll find some bigger events across Mexico to mark Dia de los Muertos.

The best-known is in Mexico City, where the parade is actually a relatively new addition, only begun in 2016. Hundreds of people take part in elaborate costumes and eye-catching skeletal make-up, riding on huge floats and dancing alongside, while giant skeleton puppets also process through the streets. Look out for other fantastical creatures made of papier-mâche or wood too, known as alebrijes, plus representations of Frida Kahlo and other iconic figures from Mexican history and culture.

Where is Day of the Dead celebrated?

The biggest Day of the Dead celebrations are in Mexico, but it’s also marked in neighbouring Guatemala, plus El Salvador and Ecuador among other countries.

One of Mexico’s biggest celebrations is in Mexico City, where the spectacular Day of the Dead Parade takes place along Avenida Reforma. Hundreds of people are involved in the parade, which features intricate floats, ornate costumes and dramatic skeleton make-up, with music, dancing and giant marionettes. The Coyoacan district is another great place to enjoy the festivities, with markets and ofrendas on display, while the Mixquic neighbourhood has also been named a ‘Barrio Magico’ by the city, offering visitors the chance to visit the cemetery and see some of the traditions first-hand.

Oaxaca is another of the most popular places to experience Day of the Dead, with markets selling Dia de los Muertos crafts and art, some decorated altars on display, and a very traditional feel.

One of the most atmospheric celebrations is on the island of Janitzio in Michoacan, which transforms itself each November, with candles lighting up the town and marigolds everywhere. Boats run throughout the night, so you can visit the town and cemetery before returning to the mainland.

Or on the Yucatan peninsula, there’s a slightly different twist on the usual celebrations, with Day of the Dead known as Hanal Pixan, or ‘feast for the souls’. In Merida, it’s traditional to eat chicken tamales, while celebrations start on October 31 with the Paseo de las Animas (Passage of the Souls) parade, leading from the main cemetery.

When did Day of the Dead start?

The Day of the Dead dates back more than a thousand of years to the Toltec and Aztec cultures of Mexico, when Goddess of Death Mictecacihuatl was believed to watch over the bones of the deceased and preside over ancient festivals of the dead. Mourning was considered disrespectful, as death was an expected part of life, while many also believed the spirits of the dead would return from the underworld, Chicunamictlan, once a year.

Spanish colonisers adopted these celebrations of the ‘Lady of the Dead’, interweaving them with Catholic festivals of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Check out our Mexico tours and festival holidays

Experience Day of the Dead celebrations on a special departure of 'Mexico's Mayan Trail'.