Blog written by the Corazón: Latiné Advocacy Employee Resource Group
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Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated in Mexico and Latin America on November 1 and 2. November 1 honors deceased children, and November 2 honors deceased adults. It is believed that during Día de los Muertos, the spirits of the deceased visit the living. In order to welcome these spirits, families and friends create altars with symbolic elements. These are gathered in the weeks leading up to the celebration.
Traditions vary by region; altars may include any of the following elements:
- Photos and personal belongings of the deceased, reminding us that they are loved and remembered
- Their favorite foods placed on the altar for loved ones to enjoy after their journey and to represent the earth element
- Water and/or a favorite drink, provided to refresh loved ones and represent the water element
- Candles, lit to guide their way and represent the fire element
- Papel picado, colorful paper banners used to decorate the altar and represent the air element
- Cempasúchil (marigolds), symbolizing the beauty of life and help guide their way
- Calaveras (sugar skulls), brightly decorated to honor and represent the departed
There are many ways to celebrate this holiday. Día de los Muertos can be intimate and personal, with a small altar at home. It can also be a large community celebration with vibrant parades and festivals. People dress up like Catrines or Catrinas by wearing fancy outfits and skeleton face paint. Friends and families gather at the cemetery to clean gravesites and create public altars. They play games, share stories of loved ones no longer with us, and eat Pan de Muerto (sweet bread of the dead).
Outside of Mexico, within the Latin American community, countries have different traditions. In Guatemala, giant kites are built and flown. Fiambre, a traditional dish made with cold meats and vegetables, is also prepared during this time. In Ecuador, also during these same fall dates, people visit grave sites and enjoy guaguas de pan (bread babies) and colada morada (purple drink).
Día de los Muertos is one of many holidays around the world that honor and remember loved ones who have moved on from this world. Similar observances include:
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Obon in Japan
- Celebrated for three days. Some regions light lanterns to welcome spirits on the first day and send them off back to the spirit world on the third day by releasing lanterns into rivers and streams. Obon honors spirits of ancestors; the dates vary based on the lunar calendar. In 2026, the celebration took place on August 27.
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Qingming in China
- Families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean gravesites and make ritual offerings. This is also seen as a celebration of spring and renewal of life. This celebration takes place 15 days after the spring equinox. In 2026, the celebration took place on April 5.
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Chuseok in Korea
- A harvest festival in the fall emphasizing family reunions and ancestral respect. Families prepare food and offerings for ancestors, pay their respects and maintain family graves. Dates vary based on the lunar calendar. In 2026, the celebration took place on September 25
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Gai Jatra in Nepal
- A regional celebration in honor of relatives who have died in the previous year. Children of families who have passed away join a procession dressed up in long clothes dragging in the earth and wearing cow masks. Dates depend on the Nepali lunar calendar; this year it was celebrated on August 29.
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Pchum Ben in Cambodia
- Celebrated by Khmer communities, Pchum Ben takes place over 15 days. During this time, families pay their respects to ancestors by offering sticky rice balls to spirits. Buddhist monks also chant throughout the night and are provided food by community members. Dates vary depending on lunar Khmer calendar, this year celebrated September 27 – October 11.
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Pitru Paksha in India
- A 16-day celebration honoring ancestors with the belief that the souls of ancestors descend to Earth to visit their families. It is customary to offer the visiting souls food and water. Dates depend on the Hindu calendar. This year, celebrations took place from September 26 to October 10, 2026.
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Festa dei Morti in Italy
- Families honor deceased loved ones, visiting cemeteries to clean graves, attend special church masses, light candles, and share special foods like "Fave dei Morti" cookies. Some regions also set up home altars with photos, favorite foods, and candles honoring their ancestors. Festi dei Morti takes place each year on November 2.
Events at AC Library:
- Bilingual Storytime at Wilma Chan Family Resource Center presented by Mobile Library on Monday, October 26 at 11:15 am
- Spanish Bilingual Storytime/ Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe at Fremont Main Library on Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 pm
- Dia de los Muertos Bilingual Storytime at Centerville Library on Wednesday, October 28 at 5:30 pm
- Cuentos Bilingües / Bilingual Storytime at Cherryland Library on Thursday, October 29 at 11:00 am
- Día de los Muertos Celebration at Albany Library on Sunday, November 1 at 1:30 pm
- Dia De Los Muertos Extravaganza at San Lorenzo Library on Monday, November 2 at 4:00 pm
Community Events in the Bay Area
- Community Day: Día de Los Muertos at San José Museum of Art in San Jose, CA on Saturday, October 24 from 11 am – 4 pm
- Fruitvale Día de los Muertos Festival at Fruitvale Village in Oakland, CA on Sunday, November 1 from 10 am – 5 pm
- Niles Altar Walk at Niles Town Plaza in Fremont, CA on Saturday, November 7 from 11 am – 8 pm
Online Resources
- Ancestry Library Edition (in-library use only): The Ancestry Library Edition collection has about 4,000 databases
- HeritageQuest Online: HeritageQuest Online provides a comprehensive collection of genealogical and local history resources. This database makes it convenient to explore billions of American and international genealogical records dating back to the 1700s, including unique primary sources, family and local histories, research guides, interactive census maps, and more. Combined with an easy-to-use search experience, it’s easier than ever for users to discover their ancestors and learn about local people and places from the past.
- MyHeritage: MyHeritage is the place for discovering, sharing, and preserving family history. It contains records from World Vital Records.
- HertitageHub: Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 – today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.
- Fold3 Library Edition: Only Fold3 Library Edition by Ancestry combines official military records with deep first-person content, including bios, photos, letters, and more. More than 500 million searchable records span hundreds of years.
Booklists
These picture books in English and Español offer subtle or direct storylines dealing with grief and loss.
For kids ages 0-12: These books either take place during the time of Dia de los Muertos, or they incorporate key themes of the holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is held on November 1 and November 2 and is celebrated in Mexico and Latin America. It is a time to honor and remember deceased loved ones
For teens and adults: These books either take place during the time of Dia de los Muertos, or they incorporate key themes of the holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is held on November 1 and November 2 and is celebrated in Mexico and Latin America. It is a time to honor and remember deceased loved ones
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