Day Of The Dead

This Día de los Muertos altar on display at a public shrine in Oaxaca, Mexico, shows several traditional ofrendas, including cempasúchil -- the Aztec name of the marigold flower native to Mexico.

Why marigolds, or cempasúchil, are the iconic flower of Día de los Muertos

3:15pm October 30, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

The Day of the Dead is deeply rooted in pre-Hispanic Aztec rituals blended with Roman Catholic traditions. But many of the indigenous symbols remain, including the vibrant and fragrant marigold.

Altarista Ofelia Esparza says it's been "a nightmare year" of loss for her family. Above, framed photographs of loved ones lost at her community altar in Grand Park.

LA Latinos Mark El Día De Los Muertos In 'A Nightmare Year' Of Loss

6:33am November 02, 2020

by Mandalit del Barco

For the Day of the Dead, families build altars, decorate graves and remember their loved ones. This year, many are remembering parents, siblings and children who died in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Queue Listen Now

At Calderón cemetery near Quito, Ecuador, a woman shares a meal as a way to remember her loved ones.

Bread Babies And Purple Drink: Ecuador's Spin On Day Of The Dead

2:32pm November 02, 2016

by Amy E. Robertson

While Mexico's Día de los Muertos is better known in the U.S., the day is observed through Latin America, with customs as diverse as the people. In Ecuador, it's Dia de los Difuntos.

Elaborately decorated skulls are crafted from pure sugar and given to friends as gifts. The colorful designs represent the vitality of life and individual personality.

Decoding The Food And Drink On A Day Of The Dead Altar

12:22pm October 30, 2014

by Karen Castillo Farfán

The Mexican tradition celebrates the dead and welcomes their return to the land of the living once a year. Enticing them to make the trip is where the food, drink and musical offerings come in.