Dia de los Muertos, a blend of pre-Hispanic indigenous beliefs and Spanish Catholic beliefs, originated centuries ago in Mexico and is still widely celebrated throughout Mexico to this day. Meaning “Day of the Dead”, Dia de los Muertos is a holiday for remembering and honoring those who have passed on, but it is not a sad occasion, rather it is a joyous time of celebration and is generally considered to be Mexico’s most important holiday.
Although November 2nd is the official date for Day of the Dead, it is celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd, with the November 1st being the day for honoring dead children and infants and November 2nd for honoring deceased adults.
People will create alters in their homes to honor their deceased loved ones or clean their graves. They decorate the alters or the graves with flowers, photos, candles, favorite foods and drinks of the deceased and toys for children, all things to make the afterlife more comfortable for their loved ones. There is music and funny story-telling and remembrances of the ancestors and it is a very social time for friends and family to come together.
Dia de los Muertos is truly one of the most special times of the year in Puerto Vallarta. Be sure to visit Plaza los Armas, the main square adjacent to the Malecon, to visit some of the beautiful alters created in memory of friends and family passed.
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