Not to be confused with Halloween, the Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is a deeply meaningful, beautiful and significant part of Mexican culture. On November 1st and 2nd, family and friends gather to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and to help support their spiritual journey. The first day is to remember children who were taken too soon and the second day is to honor adults who have passed on.
It is a time of remembrance and celebration. Families build alters in honor of their loved ones who have passed and decorate them with brightly colored flowers, like marigolds, intricate sugar skulls and colorful artwork. They will also leave offerings to commemorate their loved one's life and make their journey through the next work more comfortable like a special bread called Pan de Muerto, Tequila, pillow and blankets so that the deceased can rest well after their journey and even toys for children.
It is a deeply soulful time for Mexican people who believe that the spirits of their departed loved ones always surround them and as much about celebration as it is about sadness. If you are visiting Vallarta • Nayarit during this time, you will certainly see beautiful alters and you are welcome to visit them and look at the beautiful decorations in memory of the departed, however, out of respect, you should refrain from taking photographs of the alters themselves.
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