Day of the Dead
Mexican multi-day holiday / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos)[2][3] is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality.[4][5][6] It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. Although related to the simultaneous Christian remembrances for Hallowtide,[1] it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning.[7] The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[8]
| Day of the Dead | |
|---|---|
 Día de Muertos altar commemorating a deceased man in Milpa Alta, Mexico City | |
| Observed by | Mexico, and regions with large Mexican populations |
| Type |
|
| Significance | Prayer and remembrance of friends and family members who have died |
| Celebrations | Creation of home altars to remember the dead, traditional dishes for the Day of the Dead |
| Begins | November 1 |
| Ends | November 2 |
| Date | November 2 |
| Next time | 2 November 2023 (2023-11-02) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | All Saints' Day, All Hallows' Eve, All Souls Day[1] |
Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calaveras and marigold flowers known as cempazúchitl, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.[9] The celebration is not solely focused on the dead, as it is also common to give gifts to friends such as candy sugar skulls, to share traditional pan de muerto with family and friends, and to write light-hearted and often irreverent verses in the form of mock epitaphs dedicated to living friends and acquaintances, a literary form known as calaveras literarias.[10]
In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.[11]