El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is Mexican holiday and celebration that occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November. During this time, festivals are held to honor and remember deceased loved ones and old friends that have passed away. While this holiday parallels the U.S. holiday Halloween, the tone of the events are very different. Day of the Dead is viewed as a time of happiness and a cause for celebration.
A common belief is that during el Dia de los Muertos, the souls of the departed are able to visit the living. In order to encourage the visits of these souls, people create altars (or ofrendas) and fill them with photos, mementos and foods that the deceased may have liked in life. Decorations such as papel picado and sugar skulls are typical symbols of this celebration.
One of the most popular images associated with the Day of the Dead is that of the Catrina. The Catrina is a wealthy woman in skeletal form. This image symbolizes the fact that no one – not even the famous, wealthy, or beautiful – can escape death.
