Oct 31, 2014

In some households, November 1st is All Saints’ Day. In others, it’s the Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Both focus on remembering those who have come before us but do so different ways. Where as All Saints’ Day is a Catholic tradition invoking a solemn and prayerful atmosphere, the Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration filled with vibrant colors, decadent food and lively activities.

: Women with faces painted to look like the popular Mexican figure called “Catrina” are seen in Zapopan October 30, 2014. According to participants, about 271 women gathered in an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of women dressed to look like “Catrina”, a character also known as “The Elegant Death” and created by Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s. Mexicans will celebrate the annual Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. (Alejandro Acosta/Reuters)

: Skulls form part of an altar, which will open to the public tomorrow to celebrate the Day of the Dead, in Zocalo Square, Mexico City.(Tomas Bravo/Reuters)

: A model is pictured during a Quinceanera Magazine Catrina fashion show at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: A woman checks a picture on her camera while standing in front of skulls, which form part of an art installation to celebrate the Day of the Dead, in Zocalo Square, Mexico City. (Tomas Bravo/Reuters)

: People rehearse their makeup for the upcoming festival of Dia de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California on October 24, 2014. The Mexican festival celebrated on November 1, is held to remember friends and family members who have died and dates back to an ancient Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

: A woman with her face painted as a skull attends the start of the “Las Catrinas” festival, ahead of the Day of the Dead in Cupula on the outskirts of Morelia , October 26, 2014. La Catrina is a popular figure in Mexico known as “The Elegant Skull”. The annual Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2. (Alan Ortega/Reuters)

: Women with faces painted to look like the popular Mexican figure called “Catrina” are seen in Zapopan October 30, 2014. According to participants, about 271 women gathered in an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of women dressed to look like “Catrina”, a character also known as “The Elegant Death” and created by Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s. Mexicans will celebrate the annual Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. (Alejandro Acosta/Reuters)

: A child reacts while touching a skeleton model, which is part of an art installation to celebrate the Day of the Dead, in Zocalo Square, Mexico City. (Tomas Bravo/Reuters)

: Workers assemble an altar, which is part of an art installation to celebrate the Day of the Dead, in Zocalo Square, Mexico City. (Tomas Bravo/Reuters)

: Sex workers wear skeleton masks, a traditional Mexican symbol representing the Day of the Dead, as they make an offering during a procession to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, in Mexico City October 27, 2014. The annual Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

: Sex workers wear skeleton masks, a traditional Mexican symbol representing the Day of the Dead, as they make an offering during a procession to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, in Mexico City October 27, 2014. The annual Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

: Sex workers wear masks as they hold candles during a procession to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, in Mexico city October 27, 2014. The annual Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

: Mexican Damas rehearse in their costumes for the upcoming festival of Dia de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California on October 24, 2014. The Mexican festival celebrated on November 1, is held to remember friends and family members who have died and dates back to an ancient Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

: Make-up artist Livier (L) applies make-up on Abigail Granados at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: The band Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea perform at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: A model is pictured a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: Models are pictured during a Quinceanera Magazine Catrina fashion show at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea member Sabrina Rogers waits before a performance at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea member Wendy Franco applies make-up before a performance at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: An attendant waits at a press reception ahead of the 15th annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California October 24, 2014. The Day of the Dead festival has its origins in a pre-Hispanic Aztec belief that the dead return to Earth one day each year to visit their loved ones. The festival will be held on November 1. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

: A boy with his face painted as a skull poses for a photo during the start of the “Las Catrinas” festival, ahead of the Day of the Dead in Cupula on the outskirts of Morelia , October 26, 2014. La Catrina is a popular figure in Mexico known as “The Elegant Skull”. The annual Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2. (Alan Ortega/Reuters)

Day of the Dead

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