The celebrations are spread over three days: the first day features a parade with music during which the youngest play jokes and on the second day, the torches are extinguished to symbolize the end of the procession. November 1 is Dia de los Inocentes , honoring children who have died. Día de los Muertos—Day of the Dead in English—is a celebratory holiday in which the spirits of departed family and friends return for a day to visit their loved ones. Originated from the ancient Aztec practices which included food offerings to carved figurines (representations of the dead), the contemporary altars are built to welcome spirits back to the realm of the living. Day of the Dead is the Mexican holiday celebrating the spirit of your deceased loved ones. The central element of the celebration is the altar or "ofrenda" in Spanish. Boon Para Wate, Thailand. On November 2nd, the dead return to Mexico. Mexico’s history has shaped the festival into what it is today and the past inhabitants have added their unique stamps on Dia de la Muertos so the Catholic feasts of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day have been combined with the Hispanic rituals. While each Celebrations traditionally begin at midnight on October 31st and continue until November 2. Day of the Dead is an important Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors deceased loved ones. Intangible Heritage The Festival of Death in Mexico One of Mexico’s most colorful and ancient traditions. What ties together all the Day of the Dead celebrations is the altar that every family in Mexico set up in their homes for their dead. As mentioned above, the roots of Day of the Dead run deep in Mexican history and date back to the days before the Spanish conquest. As alluded to in the introduction, Day of the Dead should really be Days of the Dead. After all, the festivities are held on both November 1 and 2 each year. These aren’t the scary spirits you might find on Halloween. The Day of the Dead is a spiritually and culturally unique event. Día de los Muertos—Day of the Dead in English—is a celebratory holiday in which the spirits of departed family and friends return for a day to visit their loved ones. Day of the Dead Explore and celebrate one of Mexico's most magical and popular traditions. A traditionally decorated Day of the Dead altar. The central element of the celebration is the altar or "ofrenda" in Spanish. The Day of the Dead (“Día de Muertos” in Spanish, not “Día de los Muertos”) is one of the most ubiquitous traditions of Mexican culture. In Mexico, the celebration is held from October 31 to November 2nd, coinciding with the Catholic feast days of All Saints and All Souls, but the festival's origins are rooted in a unique combination of elements drawn from indigenous beliefs and Catholic teachings. This holiday helps people to embrace death as a part of life. 2. Day of the Dead Customs and Traditions. So let us take a look at just some of the most surprising Day of the Dead facts and traditions. Day of the Dead originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people, who considered mourning the dead disrespectful. As such, Day of the Dead traditions are close to many people's hearts. Here, we explore the Dia de Los Muertos history and different Day of the Dead traditions (including Calaveras, or sugar skulls) to understand its enduring significance. The Day of the Dead, also known as All Souls Day, is celebrated in México and in all of Latin America on November 2nd.