How to Celebrate Mexico's Day of the Dead

With its inception in Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) remains an important holiday for the country's people. Having originated with the Aztecs or the Mayans and later combined with the Catholic All Saint's and All Soul's Day holidays, the people of Mexico now celebrate the holiday on November 1 and 2 each year.

Instructions

Choose Where to Celebrate Mexico's Day of the Dead

1. Experience the full force of Mexico's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca. In Oaxaca, the traditions and customs remain mostly unchanged, making the city the most popular tourist destination for the Day of the Dead. Even with the crowds, check out the stunning altars and decorations throughout the town's cemeteries.

2. Walk amongst the dead in Mexico City as the streets and store windows come alive with skeletons. Don't miss the Diego Rivera Museum the reunion of the dead in San Andrés Mixquic in the southern area of the city.

3. Pick your favorite Day of the Dead altar at the Plaza Grande in Merida, along Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Local contest winners from across the state display their finest altars for the entire Day of the Dead holiday.

4. Witness a Day of the Dead duck hunt on the morning of November 1 on the island of Janitzio in Patzcuaro. At midnight, after a day of hunting and celebrating, the Purepechan Indians host an elaborate feast in the cemetery.

5. Stay closer to home by visiting Tecate for a large Day of the Dead street festival. Local schools build altars for a contest during this free celebration, which also features crafts, live music and storytelling.

Celebrate Mexico's Day of the Dead

1. Place a candle or offering on an altar. If you're feeling up to it, you can build your own to honor a departed relative.

2. Leave the sugar skulls on the altars. While they are edible, the amount of handling that goes into making each one doesn't make them the cleanest of treats. Instead of eating one, try your hand at making or decorating your own.

3. Shop at the local artisan's booths during Mexico's Day of the Dead festivals. You'll find a wide range of folk art depicting skeletons doing just about anything you can imagine. The skeletal bride is a popular motif in Mexico's Day of the Dead art.

4. Remain respectful even at the most tourist friendly celebrations. Many towns in Mexico welcome with open arms thousands of strangers into their personal celebrations. As a visitor, you should observe cemetery proceedings from afar.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your plans well in advance if you plan on spending the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Hotels and tour groups fill up well in advance for this popular holiday.