El Dia de Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a Hispanic holiday that celebrates the lives of our loved ones who have passed. In the Hispanic heritage, this is the day where we welcome back our loved ones with a traditional celebration like all others that includes food, drinks, and happiness. It is a day to speak of our loved ones who we can no longer be with, in the highest admiration.

This holiday is celebrated every year from October 31 – November 2 where October 31 is Halloween, November 1 is “el Dia de Los Inocentes,” or the day of the children, and All Saints Day, November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. It is said that the gates of heaven are open at midnight on October 31 first allowing the children to rejoin their families, then later on November 2, the adults may do the same. 

The roots of this celebration began in Mexico and have since then been brought throughout Latin culture. This is our way of celebrating those we love and knowing their presence is ever a part of life. We are given these days as an opportunity, not to mourn, but to rejoice in the ones we have gotten to love in our lives, to celebrate their accomplishments and our relationships with them, to share their stories, and to keep their memory alive. Their memory is represented by an Ofrendas typically built in their photos, candles, marigolds where their relatives will offer them food for their souls to take part in the celebration.

How do you celebrate Dia de Los Muertos? Let us know in the comments below!