In recent years, many people in the United States have adopted the tradition of building an altar for Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, due in part to the influence of the Disney film Coco. This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and some US cities such as Washington DC

As a Mexican tradition that focuses on remembering our ancestors, it has a rich historical background.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 2nd. However, the celebrations begin on October 27th and last until November 3rd.

The original tradition of “Mexica culture” believed that there was a process of birth and death. According to the Mexica Vision, the soul leaves the body and travels through seven levels in the underworld or “Mictlan.”

Each level represents an ordeal until one reaches the ninth level, where eternal rest is achieved.

For this reason, an original traditional altar consists of seven tiers, representing the seven Mexica destinations where the soul was said to arrive. However, under the influence of Catholicism, they began to create altars with two levels, representing heaven and earth, or with three levels, including a purgatory.

How to Build an Altar for the Dead:

While the most important thing about a funeral altar is the feeling behind it, here are some steps to consider if you’re planning on building an altar for the first time.

• Salt and white tablecloth: symbolize purity and salt as a cleansing element for souls to pass back and forth from their world to our world.

• Sugar and Chocolate Skulls: Skulls represent death and sugar and chocolate represent sweet calm.

• Copal and Frankincense: Keep evil spirits away so good souls can enter.

• Cempasúchil flowers: Due to their bright yellow color, they represent the sun. They serve as signposts that mark the path to the altar and guide souls.

• Food: Greets beloved visitors with their favorite dishes.

• Photos: Images of loved ones that people hope will visit their altar (drawings or depictions of them for ancestors or deceased without photos are also important).

• Pan de Muerto is a sign of affection for those who are no longer with us.

The four elements in the altar of the dead

A traditional Day of the Dead altar contains representations of the four natural elements: wind, water, fire and earth:

• Wind: paper cutouts
• Water: in a pitcher or in glasses to quench the thirst of souls
• Fire: candles
• Earth: flowers, fruits and bread

While the big celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd in most Mexican regions, the Day of the Dead begins on October 28th

October 28th

The first candle is lit and a white flower is placed to welcome the lost souls. People remember those who tragically died due to violence or accidents.

October 29th

A candle is lit for the forgotten souls who no longer have anyone to pray for them.

October 30th and 31st

A candle is lit for those who died without baptism, before birth or at a very young age. These days are dedicated to all children.

November 1st

According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH), “November 1st is All Saints Day, celebrating those who have lived exemplary lives, as well as children.” Another candle is lit and preparations are made, to welcome our ancestors on November 2nd.

November 2nd

The celebration includes various rituals such as gravestone decoration and altar construction, which are held in cemeteries to help souls transition from the underworld to earth.

Why is the Cempasúchil flower used?

“Cempasúchil” is a Nahuatl word that means “flower with twenty petals.” The Mexica used it for medicinal purposes and, according to pre-Hispanic cosmovision, its yellow color was reminiscent of the sun and served as a light to guide the souls of the deceased from the cemetery to their homes.

What is Pan de Muerto?‘

Pan de muerto is one of the most typical elements of the offering to the deceased. It is a sweet bread containing wheat flour, milk, egg, yeast, sugar, salt, butter and flavored with anise and orange.

According to the chronicle of Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a Spanish conquistador, the ritual involved sacrificing a virgin to the gods, and her still-beating heart was placed in a pot of amaranth. Then the priest of the rite bit into the organ as a sign of gratitude.

The Spanish rejected this type of sacrifice and invented a heart-shaped wheat bread dipped in sugar painted red to imitate the Virgin’s blood.

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Día de Muertos events in DC

Painting and celebrating: Día de los Muertos in El Centro

1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC

Wednesday, October 30th

Cost: $60

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Día de los Muertos with the National Museum of the American Latino

La Cosecha, 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

November 1st at 7:00 p.m. and November 2nd at 4:00 p.m

Cost: FREE

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Día de los Muertos block party

Bryant Street Market: 670 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington, DC

November 1st from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m

Cost: FREE

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Day of the Dead and Tequila Festival

November 1st from 7 p.m. to November 2nd at 2:30 a.m

Penn Social, 801 E Street NW Washington, DC 20004

Cost: $29.99 for a single ticket or 2 tickets for $30

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Exhibition: El muerto al pozo y el vivo al gozo

Mexican Cultural Institute, 4th Floor, 2829 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

November 2nd to November 27th

Cost: FREE

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“Día De Los Muertos Unidos” charity festival.

Washington Monument Grounds, 15th Street & Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20024

November 2nd at 4 p.m. to November 3rd at 1 a.m

Cost: FREE

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Día de los Muertos at The Wharf

The Wharf, 760 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

November 2nd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m

Cost: FREE

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Celebration of “El Día de los Muertos”.

National Portrait Gallery, Kogod Courtyard, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001

November 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m

Cost: FREE. Registration desired.

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Día de los Muertos at the Congressional Cemetery

Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E Street, Southeast, Washington, DC 20003

November 2nd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m

Cost: FREE, but donations are welcome

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Piñatas, poems and apapachos by Alma

La Cosecha: 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

November 3rd from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m

Cost: $5 to $30, depending on activity

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Black Tie Day of the Dead Embassy Festival

Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th St NW Washington, DC 20009

November 9th from 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m

Cost: $139

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Día de Muertos events in Maryland

Day of the Dead Cocktail Class at National Harbor

Rosa Mexicano, 153 Waterfront Street Oxon Hill, MD 20745

October 30th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m

Cost: $71.21 (tickets at the door)

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Día De Los Muertos costume party

miXt Food Hall, 3809 Rhode Island Avenue Brentwood, MD 20722

November 1st from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m

Cost: FREE admission, $5 drink specials, food available for purchase

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Day of the Dead: Making Memory

VisArts, 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850

November 2nd from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

Cost: $5

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Día de los Muertos at Shmidt Spirits

Shmidt Spirits Distillery, 10360 Southard Drive Beltsville, MD 20705

November 2nd from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m

Cost: $20 admission

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Sugar Skull Musical

Weinberg Center for the Arts: 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick, Maryland

November 2nd at 2 p.m

Cost: $10-$20

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Día de Muertos events in Virginia

Evening picnic on Día de los Muertos

Arlington Museum of Contemporary Art, 3550 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22201

November 1st from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m

Cost: FREE

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Del Ray’s Day of the Dead 2024

Del Ray Restaurants, 2400 mt Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

November 2nd from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m

Cost: Check-in is FREE. Food and beverage offerings are available for purchase

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Día de los Muertos celebration at Banditos

Bandito’s Tacos & Tequila Fairfax, 10621 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA

November 2nd from 12 p.m. until midnight

Cost: FREE entry, food and drinks available for purchase

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Where to Buy Pan de Muerto in the DMV:

Cocolita food

Chef Carla of Cocolita Food offers her traditional Pan de Muerto with a chocolate skull for pickup at the National Union Building in DC. Pre-order by email to [email protected]

💲 Price: $2 – $8 depending on size.

📍 Address: 918 F St NW, Washington, DC

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Panaderia Mi Pueblo

This traditional Mexican bakery in Alexandria offers Pan de Muerto at a very affordable price.

To pre-order, call (703) 746-8697 or stop by for same-day pickup. Cash only is accepted, but an ATM is available.

💲 Price: $1.99 for a single Pan de Muerto

📍 Address: 8401 Richmond Hwy. Suite F Alexandria, Virginia

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Adela Mexican Bakery

This cottage bakery in Reston is currently sold out for the holidays. However, they offer Pan de Muerto year-round, so you can satisfy that craving even out of season.

To order, DM us on Instagram or contact us via WhatsApp.

💲 Price: $27 for half a dozen; $37 for a dozen

📍 Reston, Virginia

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Cinco de Mayo Bakery & Taqueria

This bakery and restaurant in Glen Burnie offers pan de muerto along with a warm coffee or atole.

📍 Address: 445 N. Crain Hwy Glen Burnie, Maryland

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Apapacho Taqueria

This Union Market taquería has only been open for 6 months but offers all traditional Mexican dishes, including pan de muerto.

To order, drop in or order online.

💲 Price: $8.99 for a single Pan de Muerto

📍 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002