The Basics
This holiday honors and celebrates loved ones who have passed away, rather than being a version of Halloween.
What is Día de los Muertos?
This bright orange flower is believed to guide spirits back to their families.
What is a marigold (cempasúchil)?
This is the name of the altar created to honor deceased loved ones.
What is an ofrenda?
This traditional Mexican sweet bread is baked around Día de los Muertos.
What is pan de muerto?
Families sometimes gather in these places to decorate graves, share food, and celebrate their loved ones.
What are cemeteries?
This country is considered the birthplace of Día de los Muertos.
What is Mexico?
These decorated objects represent death as part of the cycle of life.
What are skulls (calaveras)?
These are placed on an ofrenda to help families remember the people they have lost.
What are photographs?
These colorful skull-shaped candies are traditionally decorated with icing and sometimes names.
What are calaveritas de azúcar?
This is the number of main days Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated.
What are two days?
These are the two main dates on which Día de los Muertos is celebrated.
What are November 1 and 2?
This black-and-orange insect is associated with the arrival of returning spirits.
What is the monarch butterfly?
These colorful, intricately cut paper decorations are commonly used to decorate ofrendas.
What is papel picado?
This warm Mexican drink is made with masa and is often flavored with cinnamon.
What is atole?
In some traditions, this time marks the beginning of November 1 and the arrival of spirits.
What is midnight on October 31?
Día de los Muertos celebrates this rather than focusing solely on death.
What is life?
This elegant skeleton woman is often pictured wearing a fancy hat and represents the acceptance of death.
Who is La Catrina?
This offering is placed on an ofrenda to quench the spirits' thirst after their journey.
What is water?
These bone-shaped decorations on pan de muerto represent the deceased and the cycle of life.
What are bones?
This major entertainment company attempted to trademark the phrase "Día de los Muertos" in 2013.
What is Disney?
These two cultural traditions helped shape the modern celebration of Día de los Muertos.
What are Indigenous Mesoamerican traditions and Catholicism?
This Mexican hairless dog breed is traditionally believed to guide souls to the afterlife.
What is the Xoloitzcuintli?
These four natural elements are commonly represented on traditional ofrendas.
What are earth, wind, water, and fire?
This chocolate-flavored Mexican drink is a variation of atole, traditionally made with masa and chocolate.
What is champurrado?
This special name is given to the observance honoring children who have passed away.
What is Día de los Angelitos?