Day of the Dead is one of the key cultural phenomena of Mexico and some neighboring regions. This holiday has been celebrated for over three thousand years and has its roots in Aztec and Mayan traditions and beliefs. Since 2003, it has been included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity according to UNESCO. Dia de los Muertos lasts four days from the end of October to the beginning of November. The holiday of honoring ancestors is celebrated in all regions of Mexico, but you can truly feel its authenticity only in provincial towns, where Day of the Dead has not acquired a touch of a tourist show.
The tradition of honoring dead ancestors in South America was established by the Maya and Aztec Indians: they brought gifts to the goddess Mictlancihuatl, who was depicted as a woman with a skull instead of a head (and sometimes even as a skeleton), dressed in a skirt made of rattlesnakes
– inhabitants of the upper and lower worlds (the world of the living and the world of the dead). The image of Mictlancihuatl is reproduced today by participants in carnivals on the Day of the Dead. The Aztecs and Maya covered the walls of buildings with images of skulls – tzompantli – and today decor and treats in the form of skulls are an integral part of the celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Each day of Dia de los Muertos has its own semantic accent:
October 31 – Halloween Eve, All Hallows Eve, – brings the Mexican holiday closer to the Western tradition of celebrating Halloween, although historically these are two different holidays. Halloween comes from the pagan Celtic tradition, the Day of the Dead – from the Aztec. Halloween has a more sinister, gloomy meaning, and the Mexican Day of the Dead, despite all the frightening attributes, is a completely bright and joyful holiday. In Mexico, it is believed that on this night the gates between the worlds of the living and the dead open so that the souls of ancestors can visit their relatives. On this evening, people (children, first of all) in carnival costumes go from house to house and ask for treats.
November 1 – Day of the Innocents, Día de los Inocentes – is dedicated to the souls of those who died in childhood or infancy.
November 2 – the main official Day of the Dead. A day of reunion with the souls of ancestors, honoring all departed members of the family.
November 2 is the official Day of the Dead, also known as All Souls’ Day.
On the Day of the Dead, altars – “ofrendas” – decorated with candles, flowers and food (on private altars they place dishes and products that were especially loved by the deceased of that family) appear near private homes and public institutions (museums, schools, cemeteries, even hotels and hostels).
Carnival processions take place on the central streets, which travelers can join. Women put on elaborate make-up imitating a skull, wear lush wreaths of flowers and long dresses with multi-layered skirts. The colors of the holiday, in addition to black, are yellow and orange as symbols of the sun, light and life itself; pink as a symbol of happiness and celebration; white as the color of purity and hope.
The ubiquitous tourist business offers many ready-made disposable costumes for the Day of the Dead, but they look very alien and artificial.
If you want to truly live this unusual cultural experience, it is better to make your own unique costume or limit yourself to accessories.
Otherwise, clothing for exploring Mexico should be light and comfortable, designed for hot weather and providing good sun protection. But remember that the rainy season ends in early November, the weather is changeable, and the evenings can be cool.
What else to do when you come to Mexico for Day of the Dead?
- Be inspired by the vibrant and juicy aesthetics of death as a celebration at a special exhibition at the Dolores Olmedo Museum
Not only is a collection of Frida Kahlo’s works kept here, but an altar is also set up every year for the Day of the Dead, which can claim the status of an object of contemporary art.
- Learn to distinguish mezcal from tequila
Mezcal is an authentic Mexican drink made from agave, which many confuse with the more globally popular tequila. To understand the difference, we recommend not just tasting mezcal in a Mexico City bar, but going to the picturesque colonial Oaxaca to a mezcaleria, see how this drink is made and listen to its history.
- Watch the artisans at work
In the same town of Oaxaca, it is worth visiting a workshop where they make alebrije toys – traditional crafts made of wood or papier-mâché in the form of bizarre animals and fairy-tale creatures. In Oaxaca, they also create authentic shawls and bedspreads.
- Ride the Trachiners
Trajineras are Mexican gondolas topped with colorfully patterned arches that ply the canals of Mexico City’s colorful Xochimilco neighborhood.
- Try authentic Mexican cuisine and Day of the Dead dishes
Fajitas and tacos, quesadillas and burritos are best tried in the homeland of these dishes. For connoisseurs of haute cuisine, we will show you two of the twenty best restaurants in the world (and one of the top 20 bars in the world). And on the Day of the Dead in Mexico, they prepare special holiday drinks and snacks. For example, pan de muerto – “bread of death” – sugar skulls, atole – a hot non-alcoholic drink made from corn, cinnamon and vanilla (there is also a chocolate variety).
How to see the authentic Day of the Dead and the most important sights of Mexico?
When traveling to Mexico for the Day of the Dead, we strive to focus on the color and traditions of this, undoubtedly, original and memorable holiday. not limited to a tourist show, but to immerse ourselves in the authenticity of the Day of the Dead in the province. We were able to build a two-week route so as to touch the traditions, see the key sights, devote time to a beach holiday and at the same time minimize long tiring travel.
We begin the journey from the capital: in Mexico City we visit the national museum Museo Nacional de Antropología, where a local guide tells about the history of the country and the region. We admire the magnificent neoclassical Chapultepec Palace, built in the 18th century at an altitude of more than 2,300 meters above sea level. We walk through the historic center of Mexico City.
The next day, at dawn, we fly over the Teotihuacan pyramids in a hot air balloon, and then explore the pyramids themselves – the ruins of an ancient city-state of the Mayan civilization, the name of which translates as “the place where the gods were born.”
We move to Morelia and travel through the picturesque villages around the lake. It is there that you can get acquainted with the genuine, authentic traditions of celebrating the Day of the Dead: together with the locals, we will visit the cemetery, remember the ancestors, marvel at the intricate altars and even visit the locals to share the holiday with them – this is the custom here. And on the streets of small villages you can see an interesting spectacle: callejoneada – a procession of men in traditional costumes playing stringed musical instruments, lasts about an hour and a half and perfectly creates a Mexican mood.
Then we will go to Guadalajara – a city founded in the 16th century, called the “Pearl of the West” and representing a wonderful open-air museum of colonial architecture. During the celebration of the Day of the Dead, it is definitely worth visiting the Calaverandia theme park dedicated to this holiday: here we will find huge figures in the form of cheerful dead people, light installations, photo zones and attractions.
Then we move to the town with the promising name of Tequila: we will definitely visit the production and taste tequila.
The next day is for a beach holiday: we will spend it at the resort of Puerto Vallarta with turquoise ocean water and white sand. You can simply relax with a glass of “margarita”, or you can go on a sea excursion, go fishing, snorkeling or diving.
After a rest, we fly to Palenque: the ruins of the ancient Mayan city await us, which is older than the famous Machu Picchu (and is not inferior to it in the complexity and beauty of the infrastructure). However, not only ancient civilizations, but also nature here impresses with the grandeur of the design: we will see its power at the Roberto Barrios waterfalls. And in the vicinity of Merida (the next destination) we will see a unique natural phenomenon – cenotes. These are karst sinkholes, a flooded cave without a ceiling, overgrown with lush greenery.
In Mayan culture, cenotes were not only sources of water, but also ritual objects, “gates to the kingdom of the dead” – how can you miss such a location when celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico? Especially since cenotes are incredibly picturesque and photogenic.
From Merida we move to Chichen Itza – another must see location in Mexico, the “well of the Mayan tribe”. This is one of the most restored cities of the ancient civilization, which presents the most characteristic features of the architecture and urban planning of the Maya. We will see the Temple of Kukulkan, the Caracol observatory, skillful bas-reliefs and statues, and other attractions.
Then Cancun awaits us: there is still a whole day of beach rest left before the end of the trip – to relax, bask in the sun and let the numerous impressions settle down. We will finish the trip with a grand party in the chic restaurant Rosa Negra, where every dinner turns into a show.
Do you want the same unforgettable and rich trip to Mexico?