For many people, the night of October 31 is a time for trick-or-treating. But for millions of Americans, it’s also the start of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Despite the name, the three-day holiday is a celebration of life too. Many people believe the spirits of their dead relatives return to visit during that time.
Día de los Muertos originated in Mexico, where it’s a national holiday. Today, it’s celebrated across the U.S. too, by people of Mexican heritage.
To welcome their lost loved ones, families create altars called ofrendas in their homes. They decorate the altars with flowers, candles, and photos. Many people set out their dead relatives’ favorite foods and drinks. They also clean and decorate the graves of loved ones and hold feasts there.
Skeletons are a big part of the holiday. People decorate ofrendas and graves with colorful skulls and eat skull-shaped treats. People in skeleton costumes march in parades. The skeletons aren’t meant to scare anyone. Instead, they are a joyful reminder that death is a part of life.