Day of the Dead 2026: History, Activities

November 2 is traditionally the Day of the Dead, or Da de Los Muertos, holiday in Mexico. It is thought that on this day, the souls of the deceased pay a visit to their living relatives. On this day, a lot of people visit the graves of departed family members and friends, creating altars with their favorite meals, beverages, and mementos.

When is the Day of the Dead

Every year, November 2 is the Day of the Dead. Following All Hallows Eve on October 31 and The Day of the Children and All Saints Day on November 1, it occurs after those events.

Day of the Dead History

Around 3,000 years ago, the ancient indigenous people of Mexico began to perform rituals honoring the lives of their ancestors. The event that is today known as the Day of the Dead was first observed over the full ninth month of the Aztec calendar. The month-long celebrations were shortened to three days in the 20th century, which came to be known as The Days of the Dead: Halloween on October 31, Day of the Innocents on November 1, and Day of the Dead on November 2.

One of the most recognized Days of the Dead characters is La Catrina, a towering female skeleton wearing colorful makeup and a flashy feathered cap. The Aztecs’ Lady of Death deity protected and assisted their departed loved ones as they passed through the last phases of the life and death cycles.

José Guadalupe Posada, a controversial and political cartoonist, created La Catrina, as we know it now, in the early 1900s. Diego Rivera, a painter, and Frida Kahlo’s husband incorporated José’s La Catrina into one of his murals that chronicled 400 years of Mexican history. His painting, “Dreams of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park,” features La Catrina, who is clothed elegantly, holding hands with him and a little child.

Plans are prepared all year long for the Day of the Dead. Children who have passed away receive toys, and adults who have passed away receive wine bottles or jars of various things. Most families place marigolds in their ofrendas, which are used to adorn the graves of their loved ones. The colorful petals and potent perfume of these particular flowers are thought to draw the spirits of the deceased to the offerings and to direct them from the graveyard to their family’s residence.

Day of the Dead Activities

Spend some time recalling

Set up a candle, a loved one’s portrait, and some flowers in a modest space in your house (a table works great). A straightforward gesture of remembrance.

visit a neighborhood graveyard

There are a lot of celebratory sights, sounds, and aromas in cemeteries. Visit a nearby community event, even if you don’t have an altar, to take in the sights and sounds of this day.

Organize a Day of the Dead celebration in your house.

This day should be enjoyed with loved ones and friends. Invite everyone to a big dinner and ask them to bring a picture of a loved one who has passed away. Then, arrange the pictures on a table. Ask each person at the table to share a humorous memory about a loved one as you eat. It’s important to keep things joyful, upbeat, and festive.

Day of the Dead Importance

You can honor your deceased loved ones.

The Day of the Dead gives us a chance to recollect the joyful memories we have of our loved ones even though death can be a somber experience.

Altars serve to honor the deceased.

Altars may come in a variety of sizes and designs, but they all have the same function: to commemorate and show respect for a deceased loved one. You can use this day to go through old pictures, letters, toys, and other things that might be emotional.

Marigolds

The marigold is a delicate, yellow-orange flower that symbolizes sorrow but is also brilliant enough to help the deceased’s spirits find their way back to their places of origin.