El Dia de los Muertos

El Dia de los Muertos is a tradition dating back thousands of years to an ancient festival put together by the Aztecs. It is a holiday where not only the lives of loved ones are honored, but also the lives of those who were able to touch someone or inspire them by making a positive impact on their life. This can be a family pet, a family member or even someone such as Mother Theresa or the Pope. It is a holiday of remembrance through prayer.


The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd, coinciding with the Catholic holiday of All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd. During the celebration, an alter is constructed and pictures of the departed are placed upon it. Also included on the alter are items the departed were fond of, their favorite foods or snacks for them to eat, soap and water, candles, flowers and gifts. By leaving items they were fond of, we are saying they are gone, but not forgotten and they are still in our hearts. The soap and water so they can freshen up after a long trip and the candles symbolize a light to help guide them home.

Many people are also accustomed to include pictures of saints, toy skeletons, skulls or bones, and sugar skulls. The alters can range from basic and simple to very elaborate works of art. The meaning behind the alters, and the holiday of el Dia de los Muertos is remembrance. El Dia de los Muertos is a time to reflect and remember those who meant so much to us and to let them know, we will always remember them.