The Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) tradition is a beautiful celebration that is observed throughout Latin America, with Mexico being its primary hub. According to ancient beliefs, when someone passes away, their soul continues to exist in Mictlan, a place of rest. This tradition has merged with the Catholic All Soul’s Day to become the modern Día de los Muertos celebration.

Today, death is seen as a transition to another life, and the Día de los Muertos is a time for communication between the living and the deceased. It’s a joyful and colorful celebration, honoring the departed and inviting them to join in the celebration of life.

In Mexico, families create altars called ofrendas (“offerings”) in their homes to welcome the souls of the deceased. These altars are adorned with marigolds (the flower of the dead), favorite foods, candles, incense, toys, and personal items. Some families even create paths of flower petals to guide the souls to their home altars.

The public display of the altar will be available for visitation from Monday, October 21^st through Monday, November 8th. In addition to personal offerings, the altar features traditional Día de los Muertos items such as marigolds, candles, papel picado, sugar skulls, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), the Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico’s patroness), and other symbolic offerings. It’s a wonderful time to cherish the memories of our loved ones who have passed on.