5 Traditions Behind Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican tradition that honors loved ones who have died — through color and celebration rather than mourning. Here are five traditions you’ll see at our Mission Plaza festival.

1. The Ofrenda (Altar)

Families build altars with photos, favorite foods, and mementos of people they’ve lost, inviting their spirits to visit for the day. Our festival features a community ofrenda that everyone is invited to contribute to.

2. Cempasúchil (Marigolds)

These bright orange flowers are believed to guide spirits back with their color and scent, and they’re a centerpiece of altar decoration.

3. Calaveras (Sugar Skulls)

Decorated skulls — in sugar, paper, or face paint — represent death as something to welcome rather than fear, often personalized with a loved one’s name.

4. Papel Picado

Intricately cut tissue paper banners represent the fragility of life and are strung overhead at celebrations, including ours.

5. Catrina

The elegant skeleton figure known as La Catrina has become a symbol of the holiday, inspiring the face paint and costumes you’ll see throughout the festival — including our costume contest.

Come see these traditions in person at this year’s festival — details on the festival program page.