What is the Day of the Death? How Mexico Celebrates Halloween Season.

La Tienda
Oct 22
3 min read

When you hear “The Day of the Dead,” you might picture spooky costumes or carved pumpkins. But Mexico’s Día de Muertos (November 1st and 2nd) is something entirely different. It's not a day of fear, but a vibrant, heartfelt celebration. A reunion where families welcome the spirits of their loved ones back home for a night of food, music, and memories.

We want to share the essence of this uniquely Mexican holiday with you in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland.

It’s Not Sad, It’s a Feast

The core belief of Día de Muertos is simple and comforting: on these two days, the veil between our world and the spirit world lifts, allowing the souls of the departed to return home.

Instead of mourning, families prepare for their return with joy, colour, and, most importantly, food. The atmosphere is festive, recognising that life is a cycle and death is just the next step.

The Heart of the Holiday: The Ofrenda (Altar)

Every celebration revolves around the ofrenda, or altar. This is a personalised, multi-level display built in the home to welcome the spirits. Every item placed on it has a deep significance, often tailored to the person being honoured:

Photos: The most important element, ensuring the spirit knows which home to visit.
Cempasúchil (Marigolds): The bright orange petals of these flowers are used to create paths from the street to the altar, guiding the souls with their strong scent and colour.
Water and Salt: Placed on the altar to refresh the spirits after their long journey and to purify them.
Pan de Muerto: This special sweet bread, dusted with sugar and shaped with bone-like ridges, is made just for this day. It represents the grave and is a delicious offering for the returning soul.
Favourite Foods and Drinks: The altar must include the specific meals, snacks, or drinks the person loved in life, from mole to tacos, or a bottle of their favourite aguardiente.
Calaveras (Sugar Skulls): Far from scary, these decorative, colourful skulls symbolise the cyclical nature of life and death and are often placed with the names of the living or the dead written on their forehead.

What is the Catrina?

One of the most instantly recognisable figures of Día de Muertos is La Catrina, the elegant skeleton lady wearing a sophisticated, broad-brimmed hat. Created as a zinc etching around 1910 by Mexican artist and satirist José Guadalupe Posada, the figure was a sharp critique of Mexicans who rejected their indigenous heritage in favour of adopting European fashions. Posada's original point was: "Death is democratic," meaning in the end, we all become skeletons, regardless of wealth or status. The name "La Catrina" was later popularised by muralist Diego Rivera, who featured her prominently in his famous work, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park. Today, she has transcended her satirical origins to become the ultimate, fashionable icon of the holiday, embodying the beautiful, joyful Mexican acceptance of death as a continuation of the cycle of life

a woman and a man dressed as iconic Catrina from the Day of the Dead

Bringing the Celebration to Your Home

You can bring the spirit of Día de Muertos into your Northern home. The celebration is fundamentally about remembrance, rich culture, and sharing wonderful food.

Cook a Mexican Dish: Make your kitchen fragrant with the rich flavours of Mexico.
Set a Festive Table: Use bright colours—pinks, oranges, purples, and yellows—to decorate your dinner table. Light a candle for a loved one you wish to remember.
Enjoy a Sweet Treat: Share a piece of sweet bread or a Latin caramel like Dulce de Leche with your family and tell stories about those who are no longer with you.