15 Best Día de los Muertos Traditions To Help Honor Loved Ones

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday of mourning and remembrance that is celebrated in Mexico, parts of Latin America and the United States on November 1 and November 2. Its origins date back centuries from a Mexica (often referred to as Aztec) ritual known as Miccaihuitl, of honoring the dead, according to professor Michelle Téllez of the University of Arizona.

When the Spanish colonized what is now known as Mexico, they merged many of the local indigenous beliefs and rituals with Christianity. "So, Día de los Muertos today is the bringing together of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day with this traditional honoring of our ancestors," Téllez said back in 2021. And there are plenty of unique Día de los Muertos traditions that make this holiday's celebrations and activities incredibly purposeful.

While many people love the Disney movie Coco, and the festive calavera (skulls) that have begun to appear more and more alongside Halloween decor, the two holidays are distinctly different. If you are eager to learn more about this meaningful holiday, read on and discover what some of the significant traditions mean.

15 Best Día de los Muertos Traditions

1. Set Up an Ofrenda

An ofrenda means "offering" in Spanish, and refers to the altar that is set up to honor loved ones who have died. Because the Day of the Dead centers on remembrance and celebrations of our deceased, many Latine families set up altars that serve as the centerpiece of any observance and where families can bring "offerings" like the favorite foods and drinks of those who have passed. 

More and more community centers, schools and libraries are setting up community altars and that is a lovely way to connect, learn and even grieve collectively.

2. Choose Photos

Photos of loved ones are an integral part of the ofrenda/altar to remember family members (and beloved pets!) who have passed and reminisce about the good times that were shared.

3. Incorporate Marigolds

Marigolds (Tagetes erecta) called Cempohualxochitl or Cempasúchil in Nahautl are traditional Mesoamerican flowers used in Día de los Muertos celebrations and are beloved for their scent and vibrancy, which infuse this holiday with heart and vitality.

Related: Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue—Here's an Essential Guide to the Meanings of Flowers for You

4. Prepare Pan de Muerto

This traditional pan dulce (sweet bread) can be found in many shapes, sizes and colors and is often seen with calaveras (skulls) or huesos (bones) to represent the dead. It can either be eaten or placed on the altar as an offering.

5. Serve Special Drinks

Enjoying Mexican hot chocolate, corn-based drinks (like atole or champurrado) or Ecuadoran Colada Morada brings warmth, flavor and zest to the day.

6. Create Sugar Skulls

These intricately made calaveras (or sugar skulls) can have loved ones' names inscribed on them, and then are placed on the altars. These handmade creations are gorgeous works of art.

7. Hang Papel Picado

Used year-round in many festivities, this tissue paper decor is hung in colorful banners and can serve as an element to represent wind.

Bright strings of Papel picado can also serve as a reminder that celebrating our loved ones on Día de los Muertos can bring smiles, laughs, dancing and joy as we remember them and feel them close.

7. Watch Coco

Ok, so this is my personal tradition, but watching the Disney movie Coco (featuring the voices of Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt) with my kids is a wonderful way to remind them of our beautiful ancestral rituals and help us make our own new traditions as a Mexican-American family.

9. Admire La Catrina

You may have seen these fancy Catrina skeleton ceramic figurines that feature well-dressed skeletons with fancy hats. Created by the artist and illustrator José Guadalupe Posada in the 1900s, Catrina was created as a satire and cultural critique of Mexican high society.

10. Play Meaningful Music

Whether incorporating live Mariachis or regional bands, or simply listening to the favorite songs of our loved ones, music is a huge part of Día de los Muertos and a reminder to celebrate lives and the beauty of life.

11. Light Copal

Copal is an aromatic scent made from the resin of Copal trees, native to Mexico and Central America. Lighting copal in sahumerio (a clay burner) or via incense has been used for centuries to connect with the ancestors and the smell is distinct and prevalent this time of year.

12. Light Candles

Candles are a fundamental part of an altar and Día de los Muertos observance or celebration and are lit to guide the journey of our loved ones home. From tall botanica candles to tea lights, Día de los Muertos is lit up in spirit and remembrance.

13. Honor the Xoloitzcuintli Dog

According to The Grace Museum, the Xoloitzcuintli dog (an ancient hairless dog breed that Frida Kahlo once had as a pet) is associated with Día de los Muertos because the dog breed was known to accompany Spirits into the Underworld, so the figurine of the dog is placed on altars as a spirit guide.

14. Share Stories

From reading books to kids like the imaginative books of Yuyi Morales or recounting hilarious tales and adventures of our loved ones, storytelling on Día de los Muertos brings the memories and love we shared with our deceased front and center in our hearts, minds and souls.

15. Look Out for Monarch Butterflies

Butterflies (and hummingbirds) have associations with life and death. Because the Monarch Butterflies arrive in Mexico near Día de los Muertos, many believe they represent the "spirits of the departed."

Next up, here are 100 quotes on grief to uplift, inspire, and help you feel less alone