All Souls Day and All Saints Day
The belief is that death isn’t the end but a transition from life to another level and it’s possible for the living to communicate with the deceased. A little morbid sounding but, on Day of the Dead people gather in cemeteries to communicate with souls of the dearly departed. They build private altars, adorn graves with offerings and sometimes partake in graveyard picnics… For thousands of years. It’s based on two principles in particular: One, it celebrates the lives of people who’ve passed away by luring them with gifts so they return to visit us; and two, it’s about reminiscing with friends and family, among brightly-colored decorations such as luminous marigolds, strands of hanging papel picado, and ornate calacas (spirited skeletons).
The colourful skills, or calavera, you are seeing around are actually the symbol of the holiday. Celebrants wear these masks or paint their faces to resemble a skull. And then a little sugar skull or chocolate skull is given to friends so they can “eat their own deaths.”
Because Day of the Dead, which takes place on November 2nd, follows Halloween, some people might conclude that Dia de los Muertos is an evil holiday in which Mexicans praise death. Couldn’t be further from reality, as people rejoice the lives of those we love and who are no longer on Earth. Also… it is a celebration with huge parties to give thanks to our own lives and those who are still around us.