El Dia de los Muertos is a holiday that has links back to All Hallow’s Eve/Halloween, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and indigenous festivals. It is famously associated with Mexico, but similar holidays can be found elsewhere in Latin America and around the world. Translated from Spanish, el Dia de los Muertos means the Day of the Dead. Despite the connotation with death, this is far from a morbid holiday. It is a time that is beautifully nostalgic and artistic in its focus on paying tribute to ancestors and deceased loved ones.   

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Images of skeletons and altars play heavily in this holiday as it is a time to honour relatives who have departed the Earth. More than a time of mourning and sorrowful reveling in the past, el Dia de los Muertos is about celebration of life and loved ones. The contrast of colourful altars with artistic skeletons, flickering candles, and sweet offerings are also often a part of these celebrations.

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Honouring dead loved ones is a beautiful tradition. El Dia de los Muertos is an exquisite example of how paying tribute to departed ancestors can be a time of celebration, artistry, and connection.