Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated by Latin American cultures honoring deceased loved ones. Some people may be most familiar with Dia de Muertos as a Mexican holiday. But, it is also celebrated in similar form by cultures in other Latin American countries, like Guatemala and Ecuador.

What is Dia de Muertos?

“Number one, it is not Halloween,” explained Hector Castellanos Lara, artistic director of the Dia de Muertos celebrations through the Cleveland Public Theatre.  

Dia de Muertos combines celebrations and rituals of the indigenous cultures of Mexico, Mayans and Aztecs, with Spanish Catholic influences brought to the region later. Families create altars known as ofrendas to honor deceased family members. The altar can include items that belonged to the deceased person, such as photographs, and also incense or a specially-made sugar skull, one of the most popular images associated with Dia de Muertos, to represent the individual. The altars are adorned with marigold flowers, which are believed to attract and guide the spirits of the deceased back to the living world. 

Listen in as Castellanos Lara describes ofrendas:

The celebration lasts two days, November 1 and 2. 

“November 1st is for children,” Castellanos Lara explained. “They will come to visit us. The doors from heaven will be open, and the children will come like little angels. We have to prepare the altar because when they come, you know, they will stay with us that night.” 

After midnight, on November 2, is All Souls’ Day. That is when the adult ancestors’ spirits arrive, Castellanos Lara said. At night, families in Mexico visit the cemeteries of their loved ones, bringing food, music and flowers. 

“The entire community goes there with candles,” he said. “It’s very different from other cultures.”

What is a ‘sugar skull’ or ‘calavera’? 

A sugar skull is specially made to represent a loved one who has died. It is decorated with icing and other craft items to reflect that person’s interests. Sugar skulls are not edible – they stay mounted on the deceased person’s altar and usually last about one year.

Hear Castellanos Lara explain how sugar skulls are made:

How is Dia de Muertos different from Halloween? 

Vibrant, elaborate costumes, decorated fake skulls, face painting – it all sounds like the set up for a great Halloween. 

While Halloween and Dia de Muertos similarly explore themes of death and the afterlife and are celebrated at almost the same time, the days serve different purposes. 

Dia de Muertos is a very personal holiday to its celebrants, who stay surrounded by family. Halloween celebrations, like trick-or-treating and hosting Halloween parties, lean more toward social gathering and entertainment. 

Both days originated from cultural beliefs about death and spirituality dating back centuries. Those beliefs are reflected in how we celebrate these holidays today, Castellanos Lara explained.  

While Halloween skulls are meant to be spooky and cause fright, Castellanos Lara said the skulls made for Dia de Muertos are not meant to be scary.  

How can I celebrate Dia de Muertos?

The Cleveland Public Theatre will host a free Dia de Muertos celebration this year Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Festivities include altar installations, live music, food, a vendor market of artists, and a parade of costumes that is a Cleveland-specific Dia de Muertos tradition. The procession kicks off in front of the Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave., on Detroit Rd. at 3:30 p.m.