Happy Halloween from the Museum! I hope you are all dressed up and ready to go trick-or-treating!

Halloween is a pretty famous holiday in America, but did you know there’s another big holiday just about to happen?

A lot of Mexican Americans also celebrate Dia de los Muertos, which means ”Day of the Dead” in Spanish. Dia de los Muertos isn’t a spooky or sad holiday though—it’s a joyous way to celebrate loved ones who have passed away. People make sugar skulls, Pan de Muerto (a yummy sweet bread made only for this occasion), and the favorite foods of those who have died.

Dia de los Muertos originated a long time ago in Mexico, possibly 3,000 years ago! It’s a very spiritual, festive holiday for people to honor and remember the deceased. Families build altars with marigolds and photographs of their loved ones. The bright colors of the marigold flowers represent a way for the spirits of the dead to find their way back home.

The celebration occurs on the first two days of November. The first day celebrates kids and the second day celebrates grown-ups. On the kids’ day, families usually leave toys and candy on the altars.

Dia de los Muertos is also a celebration about life!