Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

A few years back, I started researching Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition celebrated on November 1st and 2nd to honor and remember loved ones who passed away. Even though I am neither Mexican nor Catholic, I loved the idea of the tradition of remembrance rather than mourning. I know that my deceased family members would prefer us to celebrate their lives that way. I set out to learn more and found a graphic of the key items I needed to set up an altar. I also visited Denio’s Farmers Market and Swap Meet to look for key items, such as “Calaveras,” or skulls which are representations of deceased loved ones, marigold flowers (cempasúchil), and candles. After a successful trip, I started arranging all the elements thoughtfully to invite my spirits back for a visit. Taking the time to choose some of their favorite foods helped me reflect in a meaningful way to connect with my ancestors and celebrate life through remembrance. I was happy with how it turned out and hope to keep the tradition going for many years to come.