Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, otherwise known as Day of the Dead, is the celebration of our deceased relatives. Once every year, this special holiday is celebrated.

Well over 3,000 years ago, the Aztec civilization held rituals in order to honor the dead. Using ofrendas, which are home altars, they would supplement the altar with their deceased family member’s favorite foods, which is a touching addition to the ritual. These rituals often involve the usage of Calaveras and Aztec Marigold flowers. Calavera skulls are an important part of the celebration because they symbolize sweetness, and earth. A lot of simplistic aspects of this celebration usually have deeper meanings, which is a recurring theme you might notice.

The way this holiday is celebrated is entirely up to you because there are other ways to celebrate the Day of the Dead. For example, flowers, skulls, photos and food.  But most importantly, music. Music defines the atmosphere of this holiday beautifully, complimenting the large range of foods and memorabilia, including foods like chicken tamales, cookies, pan de muerto, and tequila are commonly shared during these gatherings. Aztec marigold flowers are placed on the graves of the deceased, which is said to attract the souls of the dead and bring them back to the land of the living. 

This tradition has been passed down from many generations, and will continue to be widely celebrated in many different parts of the world. Though this holiday is ultimately observed in Mexico, it doesn’t go without saying that people in other continents enjoy participating in the celebration as well.