Day of the dead is a ritualistic celebration of Mexico to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. This is similar to the Indian ritual of Vavu bali which Malayalees (Keralites) engage in on no moon day in the month of Karkidakam ( Georgian Calendar it can be anywhere from July to August)

Mexicans celebrate day of the dead on 1^st and 2^nd November. This tradition is based on the belief that the doors of heaven will be opened at Midnight of 31^st October and the spirits of the deceased will be allowed to reunite with their families for a day. They are allowed to enjoy the food and festivities prepared for them by their descendants. On November first deceased children and infants are honoured and on November 2^nd deceased adults are honoured as per the tradition. The three-day fiesta is filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead, the bread of the dead, sugar skulls;,cardboard skeletons, tissue paper decorations, fruit and nuts, incense, and other traditional foods and decorations.

The Mexican way of celebrating involves the whole community. On that day Altars are made in most homes, decorated with candles, fruits, flowers, food and drinks as an offering to the spirits. They show no stinginess in spending for the dead as they believe that happy spirits bless them with good luck and protect them from evil.

On the 2^nd November, the festivities are taken to the cemetery, the tombs will be cleaned and decorated and the candles will be lit.

It is believed that rituals celebrating the dead ancestors have been observed in Mexico for the last 3000 years.

The photos here are from the day of the dead remembrance celebrations in Australia.

  Mexico day of the dead