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Mexico comes alive during annual Day of the Dead celebrations
Families honor the dead with altars, cemetery vigils and parades as tourism grows and some communities limit visitor access.
- On Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, people painted with skull makeup marched in the Paseo de las Animas parade in Merida, Mexico, marking the start of Day of the Dead festivities.
- Rooted in ancient agriculture-related beliefs and later influenced by Catholic traditions, the holiday involves families gathering at cemeteries and decorating home altars on Nov. 1 and 2 to honor the dead.
- In Mexico City, massive parades run along main streets, though the specific float procession originated from the 2015 James Bond film Spectre and was not previously part of traditional celebrations.
- Authorities in Janitzio, Michoacan, closed the pantheon to tourists for the first time this year after the community council reported damage to tombs and the cemetery perimeter wall from crowds.
- While UNESCO recognized these celebrations as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, the international spotlight on Mexico has created regional tensions regarding overtourism and preservation of local customs.
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20 Articles
20 Articles
Candlelight, mezcal and marigolds lead the dead home. Photographer Lien Dewitte (30) traveled to Mexico and discovered how a celebration can also provide comfort...
·Antwerp, Belgium
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The vibrant orange cempasúchiles, the lit candles and the faces painted like the elegant skulls known as catrinas fill the streets of Mexico every year during the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left11Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Left
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
58% Left
L 58%
C 32%
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