Día de Muertos
Mexico, holiday
In Mexico the holiday is called Día de Muertos. Día de los Muertos is also heard, and both mean "Day of the Dead".
Meaning: Mexican holiday honoring the dead (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| Día de Muertos | Mexico, holiday |
| Día de los Muertos | also used |
The celebration is held on 1 and 2 November. Many families say that children who have died are remembered on the first day and adults on the second.
Which one should you use?
It is a remembrance of loved ones and not a sad or scary event. It is also not the same as Halloween, which falls just before it.
When do people say it?
Families build an ofrenda, an altar with photos, candles, marigold flowers called cempasúchil and favorite foods of the person remembered. A typical bread is the pan de muerto.
Did you know?
- In 2008 UNESCO added the Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead in Mexico to its list of intangible cultural heritage.
Examples in context
- Este año vamos a poner una ofrenda.This year we are going to set up an ofrenda.
- El Día de Muertos es el dos de noviembre.Day of the Dead is on 2 November.
- Mi abuela hace pan de muerto.My grandmother makes pan de muerto.
Example conversation
Sofía and her cousin Mateo decorate the family altar in Oaxaca.
- SofíaYa pusimos las flores de cempasúchil.We already put out the marigolds.
- MateoFalta la foto del abuelo y su pan favorito.We still need grandfather's photo and his favorite bread.
- SofíaAquí está. Así la ofrenda queda completa.Here it is. Now the ofrenda is complete.
