Dia de los Muertos celebrations

The sign reads, "It's not Halloween, it's Dia de Muertos."
As the two holidays mesh more and more into one giant celebration south of the border, many Mexicans want to make it clear that the two holidays HAVE NOTHING TO DO with the other. Dia de Muertos (as Chilangos call it) celebrates death and honors its loved ones who have died. There are no goblins, witches or ghouls in the celebration.

Growing up along the Texas/Mexico border, I remember kids from the Mexican side of the border coming to Eagle Pass to trick-or-treat, years later kids from our sister city Piedras Negras just stayed home and trick-or-treated on the Mexican side because the holiday got so popular south of the border. It is sort of a relief that even though the kids here trick-or-treat, they don't say "Trick or Treat," like all kids say on the border. Instead, they say "Me puedes dar mi calaverita por favor," which means "Please give me my little skull (Dia de Muertos trinket)." If you don't have candy, D.F. kids also accept coins.


In her birthplace of Coyoacan (also my neighborhood), Frida has an altar dedicated especially to her.






We also checked out probably some of the best altars in the country at the Zocalo, or the heart of Mexico City, with our friends Joy and Brendan. It was definitely a breathtaking sight. I am sure all of our beloved difuntos were present and very proud of us.