Day of the Dead in Mexico

A Celebration of Life and Memory

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most colourful celebrations in Mexico. A day of remembrance and joy, it blends ancient rituals with Spanish Catholic traditions, creating something unlike any other festival.

Famous for its striking aesthetics—skulls garlanded in orange marigolds—the ubiquitous skeleton figures can give the wrong impression to the uninitiated. The Day of the Dead isn’t about fear. It’s about the powerful bond between the living and those who came before us.

Here’s ten little-known facts about this well-known celebration.

1. Ancient Origins & Evolution

Over 3,000 years ago, the Mayans created rituals to honour their ancestors during the summer months. Later, the Aztecs celebrated a festival called Mictecacihuatl, named after the goddess of the dead, to honour the deceased. When the Spanish colonisers arrived, they blended these indigenous traditions with Catholic All Saints' and All Souls' Days, which happen in early November. The result is a festival that continues to evolve while maintaining its deep cultural roots.

2. Two Distinct Days

The Day of the Dead is actually two days. November 1st, known as Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos, is dedicated to children and infants. November 2nd, Día de los Muertos, focuses on adults who have passed. If you visit Mexico during this time, you’ll notice that families often make two separate trips to cemeteries, each one filled with stories, music, and offerings.

3. Marigold Magic

Marigolds, or cempasúchil, aren’t just decoration. Their brilliant orange colour and rich fragrance are said to guide spirits back to the world of the living. The Aztecs believed they were sacred flowers of the dead, and you can still see them scattered across altars and pathways today, glowing like little suns in the night.

4. Bread with Hidden Meaning

Pan de muerto is a traditional sweet bread baked especially for this celebration. Its round shape symbolises the circle of life and death, while the bone-like decorations on top remind us of those who have gone before. Sometimes a figurine is hidden inside, and if you’re the one to find it, tradition says you’ll be the host of the celebration the following year.

5. The Catrina Connection

La Catrina, the elegant skeleton in her wide-brimmed hat, has become an icon of the festival. First drawn by José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1910s and later celebrated by Diego Rivera in a famous mural painted in 1947, she reminds everyone that death makes no distinctions. Whether rich or poor, everyone shares the same fate. There’s beauty in that equality.

6. The Chocolate Connection

Few things warm a celebration like hot chocolate, and during Día de los Muertos it’s prepared much as it was centuries ago. The Aztecs called cacao the food of the gods (an assessment we endorse), and today you’ll often find it spiced with cinnamon or even chilli. A cup of this rich drink feels like a comforting link to the past.

7. It’s Not Mexican Halloween

This isn’t about fright or tricks. While Halloween thrives on ghosts and scares, Día de los Muertos treats death as a natural part of life. Families gather not to ward off spirits but to welcome them home, filling the air with laughter, stories, and music. If you’ve ever joined in, you’ll know how uplifting it feels.

8. UNESCO Recognition Came Late

For a tradition with thousands of years of history, global recognition came surprisingly late. It was only in 2008 that UNESCO declared Día de los Muertos an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. That honour brought international attention, but in Mexico, the festival has always spoken for itself.

9. The Economics of Death

The celebration is more than cultural—it’s also an economic powerhouse. Generating over $7 billion annually, it supports flower vendors, bakers, artisans, and cemetery caretakers. If you walk through a market in late October, you’ll see just how much life this festival breathes into local communities.

10. Tequila and Mezcal Offerings

No celebration would be complete without a toast. Families often place tequila or mezcal on their ofrendas, but unlike most drinks, these are never touched. The glasses stay filled for days, waiting only for the spirits they honour. It’s a quiet but powerful gesture of respect.

Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present

Día de los Muertos is more than a festival, it’s a way of seeing life and death as beautifully intertwined. In other words, the Day of the Dead is actually about life. By celebrating with flowers, food, stories, and song, families keep memories alive while embracing joy in the present moment. Whether you witness it in Mexico or mark it in your own way, the tradition continues to show the world that love doesn’t end when life does. Go see it for yourself!

Want to read more? The Sleepy Traveller: Historic Hacienda Hotels in Mexico. The Choosy Traveller: Tequila vs. Mescal.

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