(WHTM) – Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos) is a sacred Mexican holiday during which it is believed that spirits of the deceased can visit their living relatives.

Contrary to what some believe, it is not necessarily celebrated on October 31st, but rather from October 31st to November 2nd. The actual Day of the Dead is November 2nd.

What happens on the Day of the Dead?

At midnight on October 31st, Heaven releases the souls of deceased children so that they can be reunited with their families for 24 hours. On November 2nd, deceased adults can return to their families. During this time, living family members do much to celebrate those who are with them spiritually.

How is it celebrated?

The Day of the Dead is a special celebration to which everyone is invited, even those who are no longer alive. To honor the special departed guest, living family members place the deceased’s favorite foods and other offerings on their gravesite and/or on top of offerings they prepared at home.

Accordingly History.comOfrendas feature images of loved ones who have passed away and are generally decorated with candles, marigolds called cempasuchil, and red cockscombs.

History of Día de los Muertos

The holiday originated 3,000 years ago and goes back to the way the Aztecs and Nahua honored the dead in Mesoamerica. Accordingly History.comIt was believed that a person would go to the land of the dead, Chicunamictlán.

The person had to complete nine difficult levels, which would take years, to get to Mictlán, which was the final resting place.

The Nahaua rituals, usually performed in August, included leaving food, water, and tools to help the dead on their way to Mictlán. This was the basis for people leaving food and other offerings on graves and offrendas.

On Day of the Dead, many fake skeletons and skulls are displayed dressed in colorful clothing and accessories.

People often wear skull masks and eat candy made into the shape of a skull.

The iconic Day of the Dead calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls) were created by the 20th century printer and cartoonist, according to José Guadalupe Posada History.com. Posada made it clear that Mexicans are adopting European culture and fashion instead of honoring their own heritage.

Posada’s most famous work, La Calavera Catrina, or Elegant Skull, consists of a skeleton with makeup and fancy clothes. This 1910 piece inspired many of the common Day of the Dead decorations sold in stores.

Pop Culture

Today, the Day of the Dead is celebrated primarily in Mexico, but also throughout South America and the United States by people of Mexican descent. There are many Day of the Dead parades across America these days.

Day of the Dead has also been highlighted in the popular Disney and Pixar film Coco where a little living boy travels to the land of the dead.

Traditional food

Accordingly Cozymeal, Pan de Muertos is the most popular Day of the Dead food. It’s a sweet, fluffy loaf with sugar and bone-shaped decorations. This is eaten by the celebrants and left to the deceased and visitors.

Mole Negro is another popular Day of the Dead food. It tastes like burnt chilies and chocolate and many other ingredients. The sauce takes a long time to prepare and requires many ingredients. The recipe is usually passed down through generations.

Other common foods for the holiday include tamales, red pozole, a stew, a spicy tortilla soup called sopa azteca, and chapulines, or roasted grasshoppers.