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The Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos; in Anglophone countries, often Dia de los Muertos) is celebrated beginning on October 31 and ending November 2. Wikipedia states that: “The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.” I last blogged about the Day of the Dead exactly SIX years ago, on All Saints Day in 2009, which was ALSO a Sunday! “In 2008 the tradition of Day of the Dead was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.” Wikipedia continues:

Prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the celebration took place at the beginning of summer. It was moved to October 31, November 1 and November 2 to coincide with the Western Christian triduum of Allhallowtide: All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.^[4][5] Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. Visitors also leave possessions of the deceased at the graves.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztecfestival dedicated to the goddessMictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world, being absorbed within other deep traditions for honoring the dead. It happens to be a holiday that has become a national symbol and as such is taught (for educational purposes) in the nation’s schools, but there are families who are more inclined to celebrate a traditional “All Saints Day” associated with the Catholic Church.

Frances Ann Day summarizes the three-day celebration, the Day of the Dead:

“	On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations.	”
— Frances Ann Day, Latina and Latino Voices in Literature[15]

In the United States, cities with large Mexican populations, such as San Diego, California, often host elaborate celebrations of Dia de Muertos. The San Diego Union Tribune has a gallery of images from the celebration that started yesterday in Old Town State Historical Park which is said to be the county’s largest. Last year’s event drew 75,000 people over three days. Old Town’s event was among several that took place throughout San Diego County, including Sherman Heights, Emerald Hills, Encinitas, Escondido and National City.

-Bill at