Remember Your Dead in Utah on Nov. 1st

Dia De Los Muertos or Day of the Dead is an interesting celebration that originates in Mexico, but its message is important for anyone who has lost someone; remember them.  

The day is specific to relatives and in Mexico, the day is treated as one of celebration as the dead have a chance to come and visit their living relatives for a brief span of time. It’s a beautiful tradition and generally an uplifting one.  

There are a few ways that people celebrate Dia De Los Muertos and one of the most popular is by making calaveras. These are usually made from sugar, technically called calaveras de azucar and are hand-painted with bright colors and flowers.  

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of making it from sugar, you can always grab a Styrofoam skull from a department store, paint that, and leave it out for decoration.  

Some other ways to celebrate include making an ofrenda or alter with the deceased loved one's pictures on it. These tend to have decorations like calaveras, paper tissue flowers, marigolds, incense, candles, and the deceased's favorite foods.  

If you’re wondering why marigolds are included in the list, they are thought to attract the souls of the dead.  

It’s not uncommon for families to also head out to the graves and bring some offerings there. They’ll sit and visit with the dead bringing some of their favorite food and leaving it so that the souls can enjoy it too. If that’s a bit much for you, simply make some of their favorite dishes at home and enjoy them with family while reminiscing about the dead.  

Happy All Hallows Eve and Halloween!