Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead in English, is celebrated on November 1 & 2. The holiday originated in Southern Mexico before Europeans arrived. Over the two days, families celebrate their deceased loved one’s by holding celebrations and prayer in the cemeteries. They also clean and decorate the graves, building altars and stocking them with offerings. The most common offerings are calaveras de azucar or Sugar Skulls, toys (for children) and mezcal, tequila, pulque or atole (for adults). Marigolds and food are also used attract the spirits, so they can hear the prayers of their living relatives.
Families also build shrines in their homes and they can be seen in many civic building as well.
As in most places, the Church incorporated Dia de los Muertos into a Christian holiday, in this case All Saints and All Souls Day. Many of the altars are also decorated with crossed and the Virgin Mary, in addition to more locally sourced imagery. The is often confused with Halloween due to when they are celebrated, but are not related.
Here’s a few cocktails you can use as an offering:
Illustration courtesy Espolon Tequila.