Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday that honors and celebrates the lives of deceased loved ones. It is celebrated on November 1: All Saints’ Day, dedicated to honoring deceased children (called Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos) and November 2: All Souls’ Day, dedicated to honoring deceased adults.

Core traditions include the following:

1. Ofrendas (Altars) that families build at home or at gravesites with offerings to welcome the spirits back such as photos of the deceased, candles, marigolds (cempasúchil)—believed to guide spirits, favorite foods and drinks of the departed, sugar skulls (calaveras)—decorative, colorful representations of the dead, personal mementos or favorite objects. Families clean and decorate graves, often spending the day there in remembrance, sharing food, and even holding picnics.
2. Skulls and skeletons are often depicted in a playful, humorous way to show that death is part of life, not something to fear. People may also paint their faces as skulls.
3. Traditional foods include pan de muerto (sweet bread decorated with “bones”) and other family favorites.
4. Music, dancing, and storytelling about loved ones’ lives are common.

Día de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, but variations of the holiday or similar ancestral celebrations exist across Latin America.

Mexico

The origin and most famous celebrations; includes home altars, cemetery gatherings, parades, and festivals.

Guatemala 

Celebrates with Giant Kite Festival (Festival de Barriletes Gigantes) in early November, especially in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez. Kites are believed to guide spirits and honor the dead.

Ecuador

People visit cemeteries, clean graves, and share foods like colada morada (purple spiced drink) and guaguas de pan (bread shaped like babies).

Peru and Bolivia

Offerings and cemetery visits occur, often combined with All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day Catholic observances.

Colombia

Particularly in Nariño, families honor the dead with special meals and cemetery gatherings.