Day of the Dead: things to know before you travel to Mexico
What is the Day of the Dead?
The Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd each year. It is a time to remember and honour those who have passed away. During this time, families gather together to celebrate their loved ones with traditional foods, decorations, and activities.
The Day of the Dead is a unique celebration that combines indigenous beliefs with Catholic traditions. It is believed that during this time, the souls of those who have passed away come back to visit their families and friends. As such, people create altars with offerings such as food, flowers, candles, and photos to welcome them.
Cultural Traditions
During the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, there are many cultural traditions that take place. One popular tradition is making sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar). These are brightly coloured skulls made from sugar or clay that are decorated with colourful designs and used as decorations or offerings.
Another popular tradition is creating paper banners (papel picado) which are hung around homes and public spaces during the holiday season. These banners feature intricate designs cut into tissue paper and often depict images related to death or life after death.
Food
Food plays an important role in Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Traditional dishes include tamales filled with sweet or savoury fillings, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), mole poblano (a spicy sauce served over chicken or turkey), and calabaza en tacha (candied pumpkin).
These dishes are often served alongside drinks such as hot chocolate or atole (a thick corn-based drink). Many families also prepare special dishes for their deceased loved ones such as tacos or tamales filled with their favourite ingredients.
Activities
In addition to eating traditional foods, there are many activities associated with Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. People often visit cemeteries to clean gravesites and decorate them with flowers and other offerings.
Other activities include attending parades featuring dancers dressed up as skeletons or mariachi bands playing traditional music. If you’re travelling to Mexico for Day of the Dead, make sure you get your Mexico FMM, so you can join in on all these fun activities!