The famous Day of the Dead festival, Dia de Muertos in Spanish, started on November 1 and the aim is to celebrate the lives of friends and family who have passed away and are on their journey in the afterlife.
It is a two-day festival which originates from Aztec rituals to honor those that have passed away. Families gather to hold vigils and parties in honor of those that they have lost.
They also decorate altars to commemorate the deceased and they are decorated with favourite foods or personal items of the dead.
Despite the timing and how it may look to non-Spanish speaking cultures, the Day of the Dead has got nothing to do with Halloweenand the aim is not at all to scare people.
It is a very different take on what death means and how it can be thought about year on year to not lose the memory of loved ones, no matter how long ago they passed.
What do the different colored skulls mean?
During any Day of the Dead celebrations, you will plenty of different colored skulls both on display and as part of people’s costumes.
Each color has a different meaning. The yellow skulls represent the sun and unity because under the sun, we are all the same.
White is for the spirit and purity, red represents the blood of life, purple represents the understandable mourning that is felt by those who lose loved ones, and the pink skulls signify happiness.
It is a festival that is primarily celebrated in Mexico but evidence of it can also be seen in other Latin American countries.
Mexican communities around the world have helped to spread the festival and its meanings.