What is the Día de los Muertos Celebration?

No doubt you have seen the awesome and festive skeleton costumes, makeup, and party accessories around the end of October every year. But did you know they are part of a centuries old Mexican tradition that has nothing to do with Halloween?

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a three day holiday celebrated in Mexico, that honors those who have passed on. It is not Mexican Halloween, but a beloved rite of passage into fall that honors loved ones who are no longer on earth. It always starts on October 31, and goes through November 2, so it coincides with All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. In Mexico, (and in America, in places that it is celebrated) this is a time to visit graves of departed loved ones, clean them up, decorate them with vibrate flowers, and hold a vigil. It is also customary to place items that the deceased was fond of on the grave.

Sweets also play a big part in the celebrations, with traditional sugar skulls being served. This coincides with the joyous nature of the yearly event.

My family loves Mexican folk art, and we collect as much of it as possible. So, we have A LOT of Día de los Muertos skeletons, known as calaveras and Catrinas, around our homes. We recognize the significance, and are very reverent about it's meanings.

Embrace this lovely annual event, and make it a new tradition in your family if you choose!