Death is usually associated with despair and darkness, but the Day of the Dead brings elements of happiness and joy to the mix. Those loved ones who have passed away are celebrated and rejoiced between November first and November second. November first is called the Día de los inocentes, or the Day of the Innocent, in which young children and babies who have passed away are celebrated. Day of the Dead is on November second when adults who have passed away are celebrated.  Day of the Dead is celebrated in Latin America but has more of an emphasis in Mexico, where the holiday first originated. The Day of the Dead brings about many different customs and festivities such as parades, crafts, music and much more. Prior to the Day of the Dead, many people make preparations for this special event and prepare a surfeit of lively decorations.

One of the most recognizable decorations on Day of the Dead is the calaveras, or skulls, which are often decorated in vivid colors. In National Geographic’s article titled “Día de los muertos” it is noted that “Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations” and these skulls are seen everywhere whether they are in the form of sweets, face paint, masks or dolls. Women often dress up as “Catrinas”, or skeleton ladies, to celebrate this day and just this past year (2014) a plethora of women in New Mexico gathered and broke the world record of having the most catrinas in one place at the same time. In Eline Gordt’s article “Stunning Photos of Mexico’s ‘Day of the Dead’ Record Attempt” Gordts presents the glorious record that was broken on November 1 and the importance of the record.

Aside from the calaveras and catrinas, there are also parades that take place throughout the Day of the Dead in which the participants and spectators alike are dressed in lively attire which is appropriate for such event. During these jocund parades there is a lot of music and food which contributes to the celebration at hand. The streets are closed down for these parades and they go on until dark. The parades are very cultural and reflect a lot of the Catholic religion and the depth of the Hispanic heritage and as these festivities continue to be celebrated throughout the world, more and more people join the celebration.

The parades are very lively and jolly but there are other activities that people take part of that are very down to earth and humbling. For example some individuals make food and take it to the grave of a loved one who has passed away and gives it to them as a sort of offering. At night the graveyards are filled with many people and happiness is radiated throughout as they join together in prayer for those they have lost and tell stories about those who have passed as they remember them and their life. Ofrendas, or altars, are often created and contain food, candles, flowers, photographs and any other mementos that represent the life of a loved one who has passed away. In Mislav Popovic’s article titled “The Day of the Dead in Mexico” Popovic highlights the importance of these personal altars and states that they are “suppose to be a kind of bait or encouragement for the dead person to hear the prayers and comments of people who arrived at the cemetery” and shockingly, preparations for these altars begin a year in advance hence the importance that they bestow. In some places people stay the night at the graveyard to be in the presence of their loved ones and to comfort them on this day.

Day of the Dead is a cherished celebration in many Latin countries but has made its mark in the U.S. and the amount of individuals who celebrate it continues to grow at an impressive rate. The festivities that have been going on for centuries are still being celebrated today and will continue like that for a long time so long as those individuals keep true to their roots and realize the importance that the Day of the Dead represents.