• Home
• News & Views
• Articles
• View by Category

By Karen McConnaughey

Day of the Dead in Mexico is one of my favorite holidays. It embraces the circle of life and honors your loved ones.

Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a holiday that focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). By the way, in most localities November 1 is set aside for remembrance of deceased infants and children, often referred to as angelitos (little angels). Those who have died as adults are honored November 2.

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, often with the person's name inscribed on the top, marigolds (cempasuchil, which bloom at this time of year and lend a special fragrance to the altar), and pan de muertos (a special bread that is made especially for the season).

The spirits are also greeted with offerings of food and things that the person enjoyed in life. These are laid out on a Day of the Dead altar in the family home or at the cemetary. It is believed that the spirits consume the essence and the aroma of the foods that are offered. When the spirits depart, the living consume the food and share it with their family, friends and neighbors.

At the family burial plot in the local cemetery, relatives spruce up each grave site. In rural villages this may entail cutting down weeds that have sprouted up during the rainy season, as well as giving tombs a fresh coat of paint after making any needed structural repairs. The graves are then decorated according to local custom. The tomb may be simply adorned by a cross formed of marigold petals or elaborately embellished with colorful coronas (wreaths) and fresh or artificial floral arrangements. In many areas, children's graves are festooned with brightly colored paper streamers or other festive adornments.

Then, on November 2 family members gather at the cemetery for grave site reunions more festive than somber. Some bring along picnic baskets, bottles of tequila for toasting the departed or even a mariachi band to lead a heartfelt sing-along. Local merchants set up provisional stands outside the cemetery gates to sell food and drinks.

Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colorful celebration where death takes a lively, friendly expression.

A must-read is Kristina Morgan’s Day of the Dead Deciphered article from the 2008 issue of the in focus newsletter.  As she says so eloquently, "Day of the Dead teaches me something about living.”

An article published on gomexicoguide.com lists the best places to celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico. We have added additional information and links to Bing Maps in case you’d like to take a trip over the holiday to see a wonderful celebration.

The best places to celebrate Day of the Dead

The end of October and early November see ghoulish happenings all over the world. Many are familiar with Halloween, when children dress up as witches, ghosts and other scary figures and go trick or treating, houses are decorated and pumpkins are carved, but Mexico observes a more traditional festival. El Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd and is a national holiday. Like Halloween, it originates from pre-Christian traditions that have been incorporated into Christianity, hence it being observed on All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Day of the Dead honours the memory of the dead, with the idea that during these two days deceased loved ones return to the world of the living to be with their families. It is celebrated throughout Mexico but different regions observe different rituals and some are more colourful than others. Below are four of the best destinations in which to witness this unique holiday.

Pátzcuaro, Michoacán (approximately 180 miles from Ajijic)

Five hours from Mexico City, this small town on Lake Patzcuaro is one of the top places to witness this curious festival. Local fishermen row out in their boats to light candles across the lake and the cemetery’s bell rings out throughout the night, inviting the spirits to return. The people of the town spend all night by their loved ones’ graves, waiting for them to return to them.

Our favorite tour group Charter Club Tours is offering a tour to Pátzcuaro for the Day of the Dead celebration. Click image for details:

Experience This Unforgettable & Unique All Night Candle-Light Ceremony:
Oct. 30- Nov. 2, 2011
+4 Days - 3 Nights

Mixquic, Tláhuac

(approximately 336 miles from Ajijic)
Although Mixquic is gradually becoming geographically part of Mexico City due to urban sprawl, it retains the feel of a rural village and has strong indigenous roots, thus its traditions are also still strong. A procession through town is led by a coffin containing a white skeleton and, after cleaning and decorating the graves, the residents observe an all-night candlelight vigil in the cemetery. Mixquic’s proximity to the capital makes it an ideal destination in which to witness Day of the Dead.

Oaxaca City, Oaxaca

(Approximately 645 miles from Ajijic)
Decorating the alters of loved ones is a serious business in Oaxaca during the Day of the Dead – a competition is held to judge the best offerings and sand paintings, many of which are truly works of art. Beautiful ‘paths’ of cempasuchil petals are laid in front of the altars, with the belief that these help the dead find their way back to the living world and to their families. The markets are also well worth a visit, full of colourful items to lay on the altars and special foods such as tamales, chocolate and decorated ‘yolk bread’ which are left as offerings and given to visitors in return for candles.

Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes

(Approximately 180 miles from Ajijic)
This historic city in central Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead with the week-long Festival de las Calaveras, or Festival of the Skulls, which includes parades, street theatre, cook-offs, costume contests and a host of cultural activities. Be sure to visit the Museo Nacional de la Muerte while you’re there – it is the country’s only museum dedicated to death.

Emily Buckley frequently writes for HotelClub, a specialist website that provides deals on accommodation across the globe, including Mexico City hotels.

Hope you enjoy some photos from past celebrations in the Lake Chapala area.

A neighborhood in Ixtlahuacan builds one big altar to celebrate Day of the Dead

A young man plants flowers at the grave of his mother.

Balloons are used in graves for the young and old.

Favorite foods, drinks and items are placed around the grave site ... even a child's soccer uniform is included.

Mariachi Bands serenade families with the loved one's favorite songs.

Pan de los Muertos

The grave sites are often quite festive...celebrating the cycle of life...not just of death!

Karen McConnaughey: Operations Manager for FocusOnMexico.

Focus On Mexico offers 8-Day Educational Programs to Ajijic and Lake Chapala, Mexico (2^nd Best Climate in the World). Join us on a Focus program and learn why thousands of Americans and Canadians chose to retire in Lake Chapala.

Our programs offer the perfect balance; a wonderful vacation and an insightful, educational experience. Our expert speakers cover all topics: Health Care, Real Estate, Legal System, Immigration, Bringing Pets, Cost of Living, US Taxes for Americans, Non-Residency for Canadians, Living on the Lakeside, Investing in Mexico, Mexican Economy and much more...

You’ll get everything you need to help you decide if Lake Chapala, Mexico is the place for you, plus have a lot of fun doing it. Retiring in Mexico couldn't be better.