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My-bucket-list-festival-dia-de-los-muertos_www.lisasnotebook.com

My Bucket List Festival: Dia de Los Muertos *

20th June 2018      Lisa      45 Comments

AD | Do you have a bucket list festival? The one I’ve always wanted to attend is Mexico’s Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.  And not just because of that (staged) opening sequence in the James Bond film, Spectre! Here are some more reasons why I think this fabulous festival is a once in a lifetime must-visit.

Contents

  • 1 Dia de los Muertos origins
    • 1.1 It’s not Trick or Treat
    • 1.2 Dia de Los Muertos – altars and offerings
    • 1.3 Dance with the dead
    • 1.4 Getting to Dia de Los Muertos
    • 1.5 Share this post:

Dia de los Muertos origins

Dia de Los Muertos originated thousands of years ago in Aztec times and is about an acceptance of death and a celebration of a life lived, rather than mourning a life lost. The Aztecs believed that death was just a gateway to the underworld pending a rebirth to a higher state. And that during the autumn/winter crossover, the dead can come back to visit the living. Since then, Christianity has merged this native celebration with All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).  So that’s why you often see predominantly Catholic crosses combined with traditionally Aztec skulls.

My-bucket-list-festival-dia-de-los-muertos_www.lisasnotebook.com
Photo by Cristian Newman

It’s not Trick or Treat

While Dia de Los Muertos is a very social three-day festival that takes place through Mexico’s streets and squares, it’s important to remember that it’s not about trick or treating.  Yes, people dress up in costume, sing and dance, but it’s to celebrate and honour their dead, not to go begging for sweets.

My-bucket-list-festival-dia-de-los-muertos_www.lisasnotebook.com

October 31 is a day of preparation: the women clean and cook while the men build the altars. November 1 is for the children who can place sweets and toys on the altars for the spirits’ journeys back to the underworld. And November 2, the actual Day of the Dead, is very definitely for the adults with shots of tequila on offer!

Dia de Los Muertos – altars and offerings

The traditional altar, or ofrenda, is built in private homes and cemeteries but isn’t meant for worshipping. Instead, they’re a way to remember family members who have passed on into the afterlife. So they house food, water, candles, and family souvenirs for the visiting dead. The marigold is the main flower used in Dia de Los Muertos festivities, and families lay petals in a trail from altar to grave, to guide any wandering souls back to their place of rest.

My-bucket-list-festival-dia-de-los-muertos_www.lisasnotebook.com

Dance with the dead

Although Dia de Los Muertos celebrations take place throughout Mexico, Oaxaca is traditionally Mexico’s capital of departed souls and the best place to dance with the dead.

Everfest has some helpful tips for what to do and how to behave during the celebrations:

#1. Treat the spirits with respect – speak well of them always.
#2. Join in the festivities and have your face painted by one of the local artists.
#3. Altars are an important part of the festivities and cemetery tours are a good way to visit them.
#4. Calacas – dancing marionette skeletons make great souvenirs.

My-bucket-list-festival-dia-de-los-muertos_www.lisasnotebook.com
Photo by Valeria Almaraz

Getting to Dia de Los Muertos

So these are my reasons why I would really love to visit the Day of the Day festival at some point (along with a return to Malta of course!)  Perhaps we’ll go when Flora is a little older so she can properly appreciate all the cultural and historical nuances of this amazing celebration.  And hopefully I’ve inspired you to think about visiting Dia de los Muertos too?  If I have and you’re thinking about going later this year, Destination2 * have some great deals to Mexico to choose from.

But just in case you need a little more persuasion, here’s that opening sequence from Spectre to get you in the mood…

Do you have a bucket list festival? Does Dia de los Muertos appeal to you? Have you been to a festival abroad before? If so, where did you go?

* This is a sponsored post.

My-bucket-list-festival-dia-de-los-muertos_www.lisasnotebook.com

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Comments

  1. Sophie says

    20th June 2018 at 10:22 pm

    Oooh this is such an interesting post! Dance with the dead sounds fascinating, I love Mexico so much and this list has just reminded me of the Disney movie Coco which I love! Such a fun post thanks for sharing!
    Sophie – – https://sophhearts.com x

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      20th June 2018 at 10:28 pm

      Oh, we haven’t seen Coco, sounds like something Flora would love, thank you for the tip! X

      Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    21st June 2018 at 2:11 pm

    Wow, sounds an interesting festival and so unusual too! I too would love to go back to Malta!! xx

    Rebecca

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 3:10 pm

      Isn’t it just? I think it would be amazing to go to, so much to see and do, and so much culture too! x

      Reply
  3. Sophie Wentworth says

    21st June 2018 at 3:54 pm

    I’ve never heard of this before but looking at these photos, I can definitely see why you would want to go there! It looks and sounds amazing! I can’t say I’ve given much thought to festivals abroad but you’ve made me consider it x

    Sophie
    http://www.glowsteady.co.uk

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:01 pm

      It’s not quite Glastonbury is it, haha. I just think the whole concept of Day of the Dead is something so magical, I really want to experience it! x

      Reply
  4. Jessica & James says

    21st June 2018 at 5:02 pm

    I’ve never been to a festival before, let alone abroad but I would love to. This sounds crazy good!

    Jessica & James

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:10 pm

      Neither have I but I think this would be an amazing one to start with! x

      Reply
  5. Abigail says

    21st June 2018 at 5:09 pm

    This is an interesting post! I’ve never thought about it but having read your post it would be something I would put on a bucket list! It sounds like a really cool celebration, I actually quite like the sound of celebrating the dead. It would just be really cool to experience anything that is grounded in other countries culture rather than things that are specific tourist attractions.

    Abbie
    overpeachchic.com

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:20 pm

      Thank you so much, that’s exactly why I’d love to go to this festival, I love the attitude towards celebrating a life lived rather than mourning a death. It’s all about culture, history and tradition rather than something set up to specifically attract tourists (not that there’s anything wrong with that, I’m not throwing shade, it’s just not my thing!) 🙂

      Reply
  6. andthenzen ✨ says

    21st June 2018 at 5:10 pm

    I love the whole idea of Dia de los Muertos! I’ve seen someone else recommend it, but you should definitely watch Coco because it’s based around this festival, and it’s such a heartwarming movie.. ?

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:09 pm

      I do too, it’s something a bit different, isn’t it? And, yes, I think I do need to watch Coco, haha! x

      Reply
  7. Bexa says

    21st June 2018 at 5:10 pm

    I’ve never heard of this festival but it’s pretty fascinating and very unusual too! It actually sounds like a fun celebration instead of anything eerie or dark. I went to Mexico a few years ago and loved it there. This would be the perfect festival to do whilst enjoying a holiday in the sunshine. Great post Lisa and very informative <3 xx

    Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:26 pm

      Yes, exactly, it’s a celebration rather than mourning. I find the whole idea so fascinating and I’d love to experience something like this. Very glad to hear you loved Mexico! xx

      Reply
  8. Joan Senio says

    21st June 2018 at 5:13 pm

    How amazing…. now where did I put my passport ?????

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:29 pm

      Haha, glad you liked it!

      Reply
  9. melissa major says

    21st June 2018 at 5:15 pm

    I have never been to one before but I did go Mexico before and was told a lot about it, it’s very interesting and fascinating too. I would love to go again

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:32 pm

      I’ve never been to a festival abroad either but I think this one would be such an amazing one to start with 🙂

      Reply
  10. Kate says

    21st June 2018 at 5:20 pm

    I too would love to go. They do one in Manchester, UK and not as big but still interesting!

    Kate xx

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:35 pm

      Oh wow, do they? I didn’t know that, how interesting. That would be a great one to start with, thank you for that tip! xx

      Reply
  11. Lena Dee says

    21st June 2018 at 5:26 pm

    Omg ? I’d love to experience one of these too! I think it’s such a beautiful ceremony and festival all round. The attire is gorgeous and so creative and the meaning behind it is super sweet! Lol omg have you seen CoCo?? It made me think of this even more ?? let me know when you’re ready to take a trip Lisa! I am down ?

    xx Lena

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:08 pm

      Isn’t it though? Something really special and unique. I haven’t seen Coco yet but it sounds like a must see! And I will definitely tell you when we’re ready to come to Mexico – although you might have to wait a few years until Flora’s older, haha! xx

      Reply
  12. Aaliyah says

    21st June 2018 at 5:34 pm

    I’ve always been fascinated with the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico because it just looks amazing! Hopefully I’ll get to go and experience it one day! X

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:41 pm

      Oh, I hope you get to go too, I think it looks so wonderful, I just have to wait for Flora to grow up a bit first! x

      Reply
  13. Miranda says

    21st June 2018 at 5:55 pm

    This was a really neat post. Many do confuse Day of the Dead with Halloween. This definitely would be an experience to remember! Good one for the list.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:45 pm

      Thank you, I just hope I do make it over there as soon as my eight year old is a little older!

      Reply
  14. Francesca Wellman says

    21st June 2018 at 6:08 pm

    If you haven’t seen Coco yet, I highly recommend it! I think the film will invigorate interest in this festival, hopefully people visiting for it will treat it with respect.

    Francesca x | glutenfreehorizons.com

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:55 pm

      I really do need to see Coco, don’t I? So many people have recommended it now, I’m going to have to watch it! x

      Reply
  15. Aditi says

    21st June 2018 at 8:36 pm

    So spooky yet I love it! The whole concept of accepting the dead, paying respect to the spirits and at the same time being all fun!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      21st June 2018 at 10:51 pm

      It’s great, isn’t it? Just so different and unusual, and culturally rich. A wonderful festival!

      Reply
  16. Freja says

    22nd June 2018 at 9:02 am

    Sounds like such an interesting festival. I would love to go there!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      22nd June 2018 at 10:34 am

      It really does, doesn’t it? 🙂

      Reply
  17. Dorota says

    23rd June 2018 at 8:23 pm

    Thinking of this festival I would definitely think first of Coco Disney movie. It was so amazing and presented the entire event in such a beautiful day. I would also like to see this one as well as rock am ring.
    Dorota
    http://www.fetchcandle.wordpress.com

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      24th June 2018 at 6:21 pm

      OK, I really do have to watch Coco, so many people have recommended it to me! Thank you for reading 🙂

      Reply
  18. Lydia says

    23rd June 2018 at 9:53 pm

    I remember having the Day Of The Dead as part of an art project at secondary school, and what attracted me was the bright, bold colours; makes a change from the UK!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      24th June 2018 at 6:22 pm

      Oh wow, that sounds like an amazing art project – do you have any pictures? What did you do? x

      Reply
  19. Jordanne / Thelifeofaglasgowgirl says

    26th June 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Oh I totally love this hun! It’s something I have always wanted to experience for sure, there’s a club night about once a month near me that’s a mini Dia De Los Muertos festival and I still haven’t been yet but it always sounds great when people tell me about it. I would really like to experience the real thing.

    Jordanne // Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      27th June 2018 at 11:21 am

      Wow, the club sounds great fun, maybe a taster of what the real thing is like without having to fly long haul? I just think the festival sounds so interesting and cultural, such a change from normal festivals, something different! x

      Reply
  20. moonandrosesblog says

    11th March 2019 at 8:22 pm

    Noup, but I wish to go to Día de los muertos too, i am latina, but in my contry es very different, not bad, but not like mexican celebration. Once I wento to embassy in Costa Rica (i was there studied fashion design) and we ate very yummy food, and listened mexican music. 😀 hope you can go one day.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      12th March 2019 at 10:48 am

      Oh, I really hope I can go one day too, it looks so amazing. How interesting that Costa Rica do something similar too, even if it’s not quite like the Mexican festivals, I’m sure it was fascinating 🙂

      Reply
  21. Lauren Clark says

    9th April 2019 at 1:43 pm

    I have never heard of this festival before but it sounds so interesting. You have written such an in-depth post about it. I think it’s important to celebrate life xx

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      9th April 2019 at 6:18 pm

      Thank you Lauren, it’s definitely a once in a lifetime must-see festival, I think. Just need to wait a few more years for Flora to get a little older! xx

      Reply
  22. Liz says

    24th November 2020 at 2:29 pm

    I would have to say it was because of James Bond movie that I wanted to experience Dia delos Muertos. LOL. But reading more about it makes me want to experience it for myself even more.

    Liz
    http://www.piecesofliz.com

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      24th November 2020 at 2:32 pm

      Then my job here is done! Seriously though, the Bond movie beginning had me enthralled too 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World ⋆ Yorkshire Wonders says:
    13th June 2019 at 12:13 pm

    […] If you are looking for other scary fun, have a look at this great post on Dia de los Muertos! […]

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I'm Lisa, a Freelance Content Creator & Content Writer from Bath, helping brands and businesses connect with their ideal clients. I'm also a mum of one, cat concierge, gardener, gin, and tea lover, and Plantagenet enthusiast!

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