Day of the Dead: All About This Mexican Tradition and How to Celebrate It Yourself

It's that time again: Day of the Dead! While we've only just embraced Halloween here for a few years, in Mexico they've been celebrating the most beautiful holiday of the year for centuries. No scary ghosts or bloody masks, but a colorful tribute to everyone we miss. And you know what? This tradition is so special that you just want a little piece of it in your own life. Trust me, after reading this article, you'll be making your own mini shrine this weekend.

What exactly is Día de los Muertos?

Okay, so let's get the basics out of the way. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in Mexico and is anything but a sad affair. It's actually a celebration! Mexicans believe that the souls of the deceased return to earth during these days to visit their families. And they roll out the red carpet for that.

Imagine: everywhere you see beautiful altars filled with photos, flowers, and food. Families gather at cemeteries—not to cry, but to picnic, make music, and reminisce. It's that perfect blend of respect, love, and pure joy of life. No black clothes, but brightly colored dresses. No silence, but mariachi music. It's actually exactly what we sometimes miss here: giving death a place without it having to be heavy.

Why this tradition is also something for you

Let's be honest: we're not very good at talking about death here. We push it away, find it scary, or too confronting. But what if you turn it around? What if you paused to think about the people you miss in a way that feels warm instead of sad?

Day of the Dead gives you the chance to:

• Really take a moment to think about who you miss (when else do you do that?)
• Share beautiful memories with your children about grandpa or grandma
• To make death a topic of discussion without it becoming heavy
• Catching a moment of peace in the November rush

And the best part? You don't have to be religious at all. It's about the intention, the gesture, the love.

This is how you celebrate it yourself: make your own ofrenda

An ofrenda is the altar families create for their deceased loved ones. It might sound complicated, but it's essentially just a beautifully decorated place where you display photos of people you miss. No Pinterest perfection required—it's all about the feeling!

This is what you need (and you probably have it lying around the house):

• A small table, shelf or even a windowsill
• Photos of your loved ones who are no longer with us
• Candles (tea lights are fine!)
• Flowers (orange marigolds are traditional, but anything goes)
• Their favorite food or drink
• Personal things that remind you of them

This is how you grab Día de los Muertos on:

Start small. Really, you don't have to transform your entire living room right away. Pick a spot—even a corner of your dresser between the pile of mail and that barely-surviving plant. Drape a pretty rug or scarf over it (that orange one from last year that you never wear anyway? Perfect!).

Display the photos that make you happy. That one of Grandma laughing so hard. That selfie with your best friend from when you were 16. The photo of your cat (yes, pets count too!).

Add a few candles—regular tea lights are fine, this isn't a competition. Add flowers? Great! No flowers at home? A branch from the garden or even some autumn leaves will work just as well.

Now comes the best part: add something they loved. Grandpa's eternal cup of coffee with a hop. Mom's favorite chocolate. That bottle of wine your friend always showed up with. It's a symbolic gesture—you're sharing something with them one last time.

The stories that go with it

The altar is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you start telling the stories. Tell your children about that time Grandpa... Laugh at your friend's typical sayings. Cry if you need to, but above all, don't forget to laugh at all the good times.

Make it a moment. Light the candles when you get home from work in the evening. Take a moment to reflect while the pasta cooks. Or sit down with your coffee on Saturday morning while the rest of the house is still asleep. No rules, your moment.

Make it a family tradition

Do you know what's so wonderful about children? They don't find it strange at all. "Look, this is Great-Grandma, she loved apple pie, that's why we're putting it out." They simply accept it and often even find it very special to help out.

Have them draw pictures for the people you miss. Bake Grandma's recipe together. Listen to the music that always made Dad so happy. It makes death less scary and gives children tools to cope with loss. Because let's face it: we avoid that topic far too often.

A movie tip for this weekend: Coco

Okay, this is a real must-watch this weekend. Have you heard of the Pixar film Coco? It's about Day of the Dead and is so beautiful, it's guaranteed to make you cry (happy tears). Perfect for a weekend movie on the couch with the whole family. The kids will love it, you'll secretly be sobbing, and afterward, everyone will understand exactly what this tradition is all about.

🚨 Fair warning : make sure you have tissues. And maybe some extra popcorn, because after this movie, no one will want to leave the couch.

Time to celebrate life

Day of the Dead isn't about death, but about life. About the love that endures. About cherished memories. About realizing that the people we miss are still a part of us.

So this weekend? Make that little altar. Even if it's just a photo with a candle. Tell that story. Bake that recipe. Watch that movie. Celebrate those who are no longer here by enjoying those who are. Because that's what they would want, right?

🧡 Feliz Día de los Muertos!