Mexico is a country full of colorful festivals and deeply rooted traditions. One of the most famous festivals is the Día de los Muertosthe Day of the Dead in Mexico. This festival, which is celebrated every year by the October 31 to November 2 is a unique blend of pre-Columbian rituals and Catholic influences that offers a deep insight into Mexican culture. Although the day overlaps with Halloween, there is a completely different tradition behind it. While Halloween is seen as a festival of horror, Día de los Muertos is a day to remember the dead and celebrate the Life celebrated. The belief behind this is that the dead souls can come back to earth on the night of the first to second of November to spend time with their loved ones. The deceased are still seen as part of the community and are kept alive through memories and images.
The Día de los Muertos in Mexico has its roots particularly in the Aztecs, Maya and other indigenous communitieswho mainly inhabited the south of Mexico. When the Spanish conquered Mexico in the 16th century, these indigenous traditions merged with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, giving rise to today's Día de los Muertos.
During Día de los Muertos in Mexico, families decorate the graves of their loved ones with colorful flowers, especially the typical orange marigolds, the cempasúchil. They build small altars, called ofrendas, in their homes and cemeteries to welcome the souls. These altars are decorated with photos of the deceased, candles, incense, colorful paper decorations and the deceased's favorite foods and drinks. Children's favorite toys are often placed on the altar, while for adults it can also be cigars or a bottle of tequila. However, there are also huge public ofrendas, which are usually erected in front of churches or in market squares.
Days or even weeks in advance, the cemeteries, streets, houses, parks and gardens are lavishly decorated. Colorful skulls, skeletons, garlands and flowers can be seen everywhere. There are street festivals, markets and parades in many Mexican cities. The spectacle really picks up from October 31st and the celebrations continue until November 2nd. Many Mexicans and tourists dress up and paint their faces as skulls. As Mexicans love to party, music, dancing and the odd alcoholic drink are of course a must. After all, not only death is celebrated on these days, but also life!
Particularly striking are the elaborately decorated sugar skulls, the Calaveras de Azúcar, and the colorful skeleton figures, the Calacas. These can be seen everywhere and symbolize the cheerful way in which Mexicans view death - not as the end, but as the continuation of life in a different form.
The so-called Calavera Catrina is the typical face of the festival of the dead. This is a figure with a skull, usually colorfully decorated and wearing a large hat with colorful flowers. The term Catrina refers to a wealthy woman. This skeleton lady was first drawn by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada and is now a worldwide symbol of the Day of the Dead in Mexico.
Latin America is also particularly known for its ingenious and varied cuisine. Food naturally plays a major role on Día de los Muerto in Mexico. Typical traditional dishes such as tamales (dumplings made from corn flour), pozole (corn stew) or mole (sauce made from peppers, corn and cocoa) are served. There is also pan de muerto, a sweet bread that is baked exclusively for the festival of the dead.
For Work & Travelers who want to experience this day up close, there are a few places where the tradition is lived particularly intensely. We at WanderWorld Travel have been there ourselves to experience the festivities and give you the best first-hand tips on where you can celebrate the festival.
1. Pátzcuaro and the island of Janitzio
The state of Michoacán, in particular the city of Pátzcuaro and the island of Janitzio, is famous for its authentic Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico. The indigenous Purépecha culture here is particularly attached to its traditional customs. On the island of Janitzio in particular, impressive ceremonies take place in the open-air courtyard and a whole host of activities such as food stalls, dance performances and parties. There you can marvel at the impressive tradition of the fishermen who live there. They light a candle on their boat and paddle across the lake from Pátzcuaro to Janitzio Island to commemorate their deceased in the large cemetery. The island is very popular on the Day of the Dead, not only with the locals but also with tourists, which is why it gets quite crowded. A visit to the somewhat quieter places in the area, such as Tzintzuntzan or Santa Fe, is definitely worthwhile. The streets there are also decorated with huge ofrendas and there are various street festivals. We particularly liked the fact that the Day of the Dead is celebrated in a really authentic way and that you are mainly among Mexicans. The march of the locals to the cemetery, accompanied by dancing and singing, was very impressive.
Tips: We have two tips for you that you should bear in mind:
1) It is not easy to get around this area by public transport, especially if your accommodation is outside of Pátzcuaro. We therefore recommend that you hire a car for this excursion.
2) In addition, the temperatures there in November are around 15 degrees, so warm clothes are important.
2. oaxaca city
Oaxaca City, also known as Oaxaca de Juarez, is definitely the second best place for us to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Mexico. Oaxaca is known for its colorful streets, large markets, beautiful colonial buildings, delicious cuisine and cultural events. The Panteón General (the city's main cemetery) is a central location for the celebrations. Here you can admire the magnificent ofrendas and take part in nightly visits to the cemetery. The city also offers numerous markets selling handmade crafts and traditional foods. You can also party hard in the numerous bars and clubs. So if you're a party animal, you'll get your money's worth. During the day, you can enjoy the beautiful city and stroll through the streets and markets in pleasant temperatures.
Tips: Oaxaca City is not only worth a visit during the festival of the dead, but should be on the list for every trip to Mexico. There are numerous cool hostels and you can easily get around the city on foot during the day or take a cab at night. But be careful: On the Day of the Dead in Mexico, all accommodation is fully booked weeks in advance! You should therefore plan early and reserve a hostel and take care of the bus ride or flight there.
3. Mexico City
Mexico's capital offers probably the most spectacular celebrations for Día de los Muertos. The main street Paseo de la Reforma is transformed into a colorful spectacle with huge altars, parades and concerts. Even if the celebrations there are not as authentic and traditional, there are hundreds of events, parties and cool things to do. The biggest parade on November 2 is breathtaking, where you can marvel at huge floats and elaborate catrina dolls accompanied by music and dancing. There is also a gigantic ofrenda in the main square, Zócalo. It's the city that never sleeps, and the festival is a great opportunity to see this mega-city.
Tips:
1) Visit the Museo Anahuacalli or the Museo Frida Kahlo, both of which offer special events and exhibitions for this festival.
2) There are different neighborhoods in Mexico City, some are very rich and others are extremely poor. When booking your accommodation, make sure that it is in a good and safe neighborhood, such as Roma, Reforma, Condesa, Centro Histórico, Ploanco, Zona Rosa or Coyoacán.
4th Mérida
If you are in Mexico on the Yucatán Peninsula for Día de los Muertos, we recommend visiting the city of Mérida. There, the festival is celebrated as Hanal Pixán, which means "food for the souls". Here you can experience a mix of Mayan traditions and modern celebrations, including dance, music and gastronomy. In the beautiful city, the festival of the dead mainly takes place in the cemeteries on the night of the first to second of November and offers a gruesomely fun spectacle.
Tips: If you're staying on the Caribbean side of Mexico and don't want to fly all over the country, Mérida is a great place to experience authentic partying. You can easily reach the city by bus and the local infrastructure of casual hostels, restaurants and parties offers you everything you need for a successful stay. In Mérida, the festival is definitely more beautiful and more elaborate than in places like Cancún or Tulum.
No matter where you celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico, it will definitely be a great celebration and an experience that you will never forget. However, you should be careful not to treat the festival as a mere tourist attraction, but to respect the beliefs and customs of the locals. It is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in Mexican culture and experience the vibrancy and colorfulness of this unique festival. Whether in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Michoacán or Mérida - each region offers its own special way of celebrating the Day of the Dead.
Founder of Wanderworld Travel
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