Mourning the loss of our loved ones is never easy. Such melancholic days are often carried out in dark, solemn clothing, grieving cries, and whispered goodbyes. Although death is often handled in a sorrowful manner, other cultures—such as Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos—might view the passing of someone in a different light.

With colourful parades and upbeat music, Día de los Muertos, otherwise known as the ‘Day of the Dead’, is a Mexican holiday where families welcome and reunite with the souls of their deceased relatives. Families across Mexico and other Latin American countries lay out flowers, light up candles, and prepare a variety of dishes to warmly welcome their deceased loved ones.

Día de los Muertos is split into two days: Día de los Angelitos and Día de los Difuntos. Beginning when the clock strikes the midnight of November 1st, Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels) is meant for deceased children to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On the following midnight, the celebrations shift towards Día de los Difuntos (All Souls Day), where families honour the lives of departed adults. Both nights warmly welcome the spirits of deceased loved ones with music, games, and food.

Ofrendas are altars built in homes to remember and honour the spirits of deceased loved ones. They help provide a bridge to connect the living and the dead, allowing the deceased to remain part of the family. Ofrendas are decorated with the deceased’s picture, personal items, favourite food, flowers, and candles. As a result, they are often vibrant in colour and style.

Created in 1910 by engraver José Guadalupe Posada, La Catrina acted as a criticism of Mexicans who adopted European customs over their own indigenous heritage. However, as time went by, she became the cultural icon everyone adored. Today, she embodies the idea that the concept of death should be seen as a trivial part of life, rather than feared. Furthermore, her elegance acts as the muse of many designers for designers and fashionistas, strengthening her influence.

Back during prehistoric times, Mesoamerican communities would offer human skulls collected from war prisoners and human sacrifices to Mictlantecuhtli, the god of the underworld, to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. This tradition was soon lost when the Spanish arrived.

Today, these skulls take a rather sweet and colourful form. Made from melted sugar and decorated with colourful patterns, the skulls are placed in cemeteries and ofrendas to symbolise the sweet yet temporary nature of life.

Marigolds are flowers characterised by their bright yellow and orange colours and pungent smell. They are often associated with the cycle of life and death; it keeps the memory of a passed one alive by symbolising the light of the sun and acts as the illuminated bridge to the afterlife—its golden hue giving a sense of peace and warmth. These flowers are also further believed to be the pathways of spirits to their ofrendas and burial sites.

Papel Picado, or perforated paper in English, is a traditional Mexican decorative craft involving cutting intricate and delicate patterns on tissue-like paper. The papers will then be hung across streets, doorways, and ofrendas during Día de los Muertos. Papel Picados often represent the fragility and fleeting nature of life.

Día de los Muertos can be traced back thousands of years to the Aztecs, Toltecs, Olmecs, and Maya. In these Mesoamerican societies, death represented the continuation of existence in another realm, rather than a sorrowful end to someone’s life. They also believed that the deceased remain connected to the living and that they can return to Earth periodically. 

The Aztecs, in particular, believed that a person embarks on a long journey through Chicunamictlán (Land of Death) before settling in Mictlan (Place of the Dead). Mitclan is an underworld realm ruled by Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacíhuatl, the lord and lady of the dead. To aid their journey, families often offer food and personal objects to ensure their loved ones' safety.

When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the indigenous memorial practices of the Mesoamericans were soon intertwined with Roman Catholic ones. This created a blended celebration that honoured both Christian and Hispanic understandings of life and death. Although the Spanish calendar altered the dates of the celebrations, the belief that death is simply a continuation of life remained.

Throughout time, various movies based on Día de los Muertos have been created, watched, adored, and rewatched. The most prominent media include The Book of Life and Coco.

The Book of Life involves La Muerte, the Goddess of the Land of Remembrance, and Xibalba, the God of the Land of the Forgotten, wagering a bet on a mortal love triangle. It features the protagonist, Manolo, and his journey back to the living world. This concept is similar to the Aztecs and their belief in the deceased’s journey to Mictlan. 

This movie also presents the duality of the two afterlife realms. It shows the two sides of the afterlife: a bright and joyous realm where memories of the deceased are cherished by the living and the colourless, desolate void where the forgotten reside.

Coco heavily focuses on the idea of the ‘Forgotten’ and how to prevent it. It shows the protagonist, Miguel, helping his great-grandfather, Héctor, stay in the Land of the Dead by ensuring that his memory exists in the living world. The climax of the movie involved Miguel singing ‘Remember Me’, a heartfelt song written by Héctor, to help Mama Coco remember her father. The movie showed the importance of memory and how it keeps the spirit alive, aligning with the Aztecs' belief that death is a continuation of life.

Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful celebration that warmed my heart with every new fact I learned about it. I believe the concept of keeping a deceased loved one ‘alive’ through memories of them would help put most grieving hearts at ease. Viewing death as a continuation of life shows that the impact of a human life can affect many in the living world. To me, I see it as a sense of encouragement to be kind to myself, my loved ones and the everyday people around us. The idea of remaining a delightful memory to everyone after my passing makes my heart flutter with joy and I hope the sentiment helps all of us strive to become better, kinder individuals—as you never know who you might make an impact on. 

In the near future, I wish we would all have the opportunity to be able to view the celebratory activities of Dia de los Muertos in person. But for now, I can only imagine how the bright colours and cheerful music would bring a wide smile to my face as we, alongside the Latin American and Mexican community, remember our people and the many stories told through them.