November 1 and 2 are the Day(s) of the Dead (Dia(s) de los Muertos), a Mexican celebration during which people offer food, water, and various types of traditional desserts to deceased family and friends in an effort to remember them. Despite being associated with these days and having similar timing, as some places extend the Days of the Dead to October 31, this celebration is not equivalent to Halloween, All Saint's Day (November 1), or All Soul's Day (November 2). The Days of the Dead aren't times of mourning or times full of scary things, but of celebration and remembrance of the dead.

An altar (ofrenda) is put together by a family and decorated with candles and a photo of the person who is being honored and remembered. Common offerings are bread, atole (a traditional hot corn- and masa-based beverage), fruit, or candies like tamarind, caramels, and the classic sugar skull. Marigolds are also very common to see as decoration, thought to be the flowers of the dead. The dead are portrayed as animated skeletons since everyone has a skeleton inside them.

Related tags:

• sugar skull
• skull face paint
• altar

See also:

• Coco (Pixar)
• October (month)

More Information

Day of the Dead (Wikipedia)