Welcome and thanks for stopping by! Although I have already created an in-depth blog post on Spending 4 nights in Mexico City, I wanted to share the specific details for anyone thinking of celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City. Now that I have had time to process everything, I can share with you all the Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Let’s begin!
Who?
Who celebrates Day of the Dead? Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico and the Catholic world… Italy, Spain, and South. Even in the Philippines they celebrate All Souls and All Saints Day. Mexico is the country where it is most prominently celebrated. I highly recommend spending Day of the Dead in Mexico City. The people there are so warm and friendly. They were welcoming to all tourists at the cemetery while visiting their departed loved ones.
On the first official night of Day of the Dead, I participated in this Viator tour titled “Day of the Dead Tour in Mexico City with Xochimilco Canal Ride.” This tour only runs on one day of the year, November 1st. Be sure to book early to guarantee your spot. The price is currently $66.00 and includes round-trip transportation, a walk through of the cemetery, a night ride on a trajinera (gondola) down the canals of Xochimilco, and of course of fabulous tour guide. Our tour guide Kevin, pictured below, was so knowledgeable about the festivities. One of my favorite parts of the night was floating on the gondola down the busy canal and sampling local foods from the vendor boats. One of the items to sample was a fuzzy potato that they’d cut into bit size pieces. Then they’d add mayo, chili powder, lime/citrus juice, and garlic. So tasty! Photo of the fuzzy potatoes below.
It’s important to realize that this isn’t time for mourning. It’s a time for people to come together and celebrate the life of their dearly departed. I remember walking onto one of the graves at the cemetery, and a family offered me a sample of this alcoholic drink. That drink was their lost one’s favorite. So they poured an extra cup just for them. It was a very sweet moment and I was so grateful to be apart of it for the evening. While you shouldn’t walk around thinking that it’s a party, you shouldn’t be sad around them either. They are happy to have their loved ones back even for just those two days in November.
What?
What is Day of the Dead? We’ve covered the basics on who celebrates Day of the Dead. Now let’s talk about what it is. Well for starters it’s two days, not one, so it’s odd that “Day” is singular. Always celebrated in November. Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions. Over the course of two days, there is an explosion of life and color and happiness. During those two days, it’s an opportunity for the living to show their love and respect for their passed family members. In towns and cities throughout Mexico, those participating put on “makeup and costumes, hold parades and parties, sing and dance, and make offerings to lost loved ones” (National Geographic). The rituals all have symbolic meaning.
Calavera Catrina
The Calavera Catrina (the skeleton shown below) has become an icon for the Day of the Dead holiday. She was created as a satirical image which aimed to mock the indigenous Mexicans who imitated Europeans with the pale faces and dressing luxuriously. She represents a reminder that even the wealthy will die one day. “Death brings this neutralizing force; everyone is equal in the end. Sometimes people need to be reminded of that.” – David de la Torre.
I enjoyed having my face painted to really participate in the festivities. Please remember: This is not cultural misappropriation… it’s CULTURAL APPRECIATION. Cultural misappropriation would be to wear a Halloween-type skeleton outfit or something skimpy and mock this celebration. The locals here had no problem with tourists respectfully dressing up for the cause. Shout out to Eric who worked at a make up store near the Zocalo. He was patient enough to spend 1.5 hours putting on the layers of makeup. It takes a lot to make my skin that white! 🖤🖤
Zocalo Square
When celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City, you must visit the popular Zocalo Square. The Zocalo Square is one of the busiest public squares in the world. Every year they throw a huge party with music, and food stalls. Fun time for sure and where I went to celebrate right after my make up was complete.
Although it was raining a little, it didn’t stop us from having a great time. Just come prepared and bring an umbrella. You never know how the weather will be this time of year. A little chilly in the evenings but comfortable during the day.
Pan de Muerto
One of the many items I was able to sample while experiencing Day of the Dead in Mexico City: Pan de Muerto. Viator’s tour included the bread which was a nice touch. Made the night even more special.
Pan de Muerto, also called “pan de los Muertos” is a type of pan dulce. It’s traditionally baked in Mexico during the weeks leading up to the Day of the Dead festivities. This delicious bread can be found in bakeries and supermarkets from the middle of October – early November. Check out this Pan de Muerto recipe by Mexican In My Kitchen.
When I first saw the bread, the evening of the Viator tour, I thought it was a spider. The shape was actually explained by the tour guide. The shape is a skeleton and bones (see below).
Ofrendas
One of the biggest parts of Day of the Dead are the ofrendas which are “offerings.” I touched on this a little above when I mentioned loved ones gathered around with their dearly departed’s favorite soda or snack. Or listening to their favorite song. Whole food dishes were prepared and left on the graves of family members. For those two nights they would come back and get to enjoy their favorite meal.
What an incredible experience. I saw a LOT of Coca-Cola bottles! Apparently that’s a popular item to leave. Tamales, are also a popular dish to offer up. Same with chocolate sugar skulls. Of course flowers are a popular offering (as they are worldwide). The most popular flower I saw was the Cempasuchil, known as “Mexican Marigolds.”
When?
When is Day of the Dead celebrated? Day of the Dead is celebrated every year on November 1 and November 2. Tourists can also participate the night before on October 31. This holiday is not celebrated in conjunction with the Halloween celebration. No correlation or relationship between the two events. Please dress respectful with no revealing Halloween outfits. It’s also not acceptable to have the makeup be “scary” because remember this isn’t a scary time. It’s a happy time.
The two days celebrates the deceased by age:
- November 1: Dia de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents“) – celebrating those who passed away long before their time
- November 2: Dia de los Muertos – celebrating passed adults gone but not forgotten
Where?
Where is Day of the Dead celebrated? As mentioned above in the “Why” section, it is primarily celebrated in the Central and South regions of Mexico. This celebration correlates with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day largely celebrated throughout Europe. I may be bias here, but again… I highly recommend celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City. There is something so electrifying about this city. From the late night street stalls, to the markets that are a feast for the senses. It truly comes alive all times of day. Can’t miss the beautiful architecture either, like the Museo de Palacio Belles Artes.
Why?
Why do they celebrate Day of the Dead? Day of the Dead is considered a public holiday in Mexico. Taken from trusted Wikipedia… To coincide with the Western Christianity All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls Day, this holiday just took off. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called “ofrendas”, and visiting graves with these gifts.
Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico developed from ancient traditions among its pre-Columbian culturals. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors had been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2,500 – 3,000 years. The festival that developed into the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess known as the “Lady of the Dead,” corresponding to the modern La Calavera Catrina.
In the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre, the opening sequence features a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. At the time no such parade took place in Mexico City; one year later, due to the interest and popularity of the movie, the fed and local authorities decided to organize an actual “Dia de Muertos” perade on October 29, 2016, which was attended by 250,000 people. I believe the popularity will continue to skyrocket. I just hope it doesn’t lose focus of the original meaning.
Thank you for reading and if you have other Day of the Dead tips feel free to leave a comment below! If you need some help planning your trip to Mexico City, or anywhere for that matter, give me a shout: cassandra@accent-on-travel.net. Additionally, all photo creds go to the talented James Loving. Please check out his professional Facebook page here or IG (@jamesloving). If you’re looking for a photographer (who’s willing to travel near and far) be sure to contact him.
