Latin America
Skulls and skeletons: Mexico celebrates “Day of the Dead”
Costumed participants march through Mexico City in the Day of the Dead parade. photo
© Ginnette Riquelme/AP/dpa
Today, people in Mexico commemorate their deceased relatives – with music, dance and colorful costumes.
In Mexico, the traditional “Day of the Dead” celebrations have begun with a colorful procession through the capital. Thousands of spectators in Mexico City marveled at the spectacle of floats and disguises, as reported by the Mexican newspaper “El Universal”.
Photos showed many participants wearing skeleton costumes and skull masks. The parade is modeled after a parade featured in the 2015 James Bond film Spectre. It has been held annually since 2016.
The “Día de Muertos” is celebrated every year on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. As in other Catholic regions of the world, the dead are commemorated – mostly at the graves of deceased relatives. In Mexico, the tradition is mainly cultivated in the indigenous communities.
According to belief, the souls of family members come to visit from the afterlife on these days. Altars are set up at home and decorated with flowers, candles, photos, religious signs, food and drink.