Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, is a holiday to celebrate and honor the dead. This holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico, Central America, and in many communities across the United States.
You can learn more about the origins of Halloween and other holidays like Samhain and All Souls Day from our blog here, but read on to learn more about Dia de los Muertos.
Dia de los Muertos has its roots in Indigenous traditions with more modern Spanish Catholic traditions that were brought to Mexico in the 1500s. The holiday is celebrated over two days - November 1 and November 2 - and commemorates the lives of friends and family members who have passed away.
Celebrants build ofrendas, candlelit altars with food (like pan de muerto), marigolds, and photos of the deceased. Other items that were precious to those you are honoring can also be placed on the ofrenda. Ofrendas are meant to guide the spirits back to the living with their bright colors and strong smells. Paper-mache skeletons and sugar skulls are also made to celebrate the holiday.
Dia de Los Muertos inspired the Disney movie Coco, which you can borrow from the library to learn more about how the movie represents Mexican culture. In fact, you can check out all sorts of books for young ones and for yourself on our online catalog.
Alison Robles, a Yonkers native, received an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo. She works at the Crestwood Library and is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction, and fantasy.