Infographic: 20 Boneshaking Facts About Day Of The Dead We Bet You Didn’t Know

28/10/2022Tom Spruce

Our facts about Day of the Dead will shed new light on this most incredible of celebrations. 

Anyone who’s seen Disney’s Coco will already be aware of this festival of colour. But our facts about Day of the Dead will tell you all you need to know to appreciate it fully. 

This helpful infographic will go over the main areas of Día de los Muertos. From its history to what every kaleidoscopic element of decoration means. 

So, by the end of this blog, you should have a better understanding of one of Mexico‘s biggest celebrations, as well as what makes it so special.

Without further ado, let’s get into the facts!

20 Facts About Day of the Dead

20 Facts About Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is celebrated from 1 - 2 November
November 1st is known as Dia de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) and November 2nd is All Souls Day
As a national holiday in Mexico, Day of the Dead is nearly as popular as Christmas
On Day of the Dead the souls of lost ancestors are said to return to the living realm
Don't get Day of the Dead confused with Halloween - they are not the same

Historical Facts

The celebration can trace its roots back over 3,000 years
Many of the traditions we see today come from Aztec practices
It used to be a one day festival until the 16th century when Spanish Catholics added the idea of All Souls Day
The iconic skull image of Day of the Dead is taken from La Calavera Catarina
Painter Diego Riviera gave skeletal Catarina a body and a classic chic dress sense in his 1947 work "Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central"

Traditional Facts

Families build colourful shrines in honour of their dead relatives known as “Ofrendas”
Each Ofrenda is unique to the family creating it. However, decorations are meant to reflect the four elements: Fire, Water, Wind and Earth
Papel picado adorn Day of the Dead celebrations. The colourful tissue paper represents the fragility of life, while the perforations allow souls to pass through.
Marigolds or flor de cempasúchil. Known as the “flower of the dead” so they were a natural choice for Day of the Dead
It’s tradition for families to clean and decorate gravestones and tombs before gathering at the gravesite for storytelling and food.

Foodie Facts

You won’t be able to visit any Ofrenda without seeing a pan de muertos or bread of the dead adorning the altars
Sugar skulls are placed on Ofrendas as offerings or handed out as sweet treats for the living.
other traditional foods include candied pumpkin, tamales, caramel flan, chalupas, tortilla soup and red pozole.
The drinks of choice at Da of the Dead celebrations are more traditional. Expect Atole a non-alcoholic thick beverage made of corn, cinnamon, and vanilla
Many families also choose to prepare the favourite meals and drinks of the deceased for Day of the Dead.

There’s More Where That Came From

As you can tell, we’re doolally for Day of the Dead.

If you’re into the vibe, then why not click the button below and learn even more about the celebration? Including a bone-shakingly good offer we think you’re going to love!

Then, go the whole hog and stick a bit of Coco on. Treat yourself.

Tom Spruce

As Content Manager at Blue Bay Travel, I create and deliver content that helps travel lovers (like me) explore more. There’s nothing better than touching down in a brand new location and experiencing its sights and sounds for the first time. Hopefully the blogs we publish are informative, helpful and hotter than the whoosh of tropical air when the plane doors open.

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