8 December 2025: Spanish Tutor/LLA Giselle Writes about the Day of the Dead
8 December 2025: Spanish Tutor/LLA Giselle: Day of the Dead
The Hispanic community has many beautiful and different traditions that vary by city but one tradition that seems to be celebrated all across the Mexican region is the celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Día de los Muertos, most known as day of the dead within the English-speaking world, is a world-renowned traditional culture practice from Mexico in which we celebrate and honor those who have passed away. Between the dates of October 31st and November 2nd, Hispanic families build altars within their homes. Altars known as “ofrendas” in Spanish, consist of a space that has multiple objects related to the person they are remembering such as picture frames, their favorite food, or pan de muerto which is a sweet bread that is mostly produced around this date. They construct these altars as a way to honor those who have passed as it is believed that, between these dates, the spirits visit their families and friends. In Mexico, it is often tradition to build altars in cemeteries, including decorating their graves(stones) and placing pictures and cherished objects of the deceased such as flowers or their favorite food.
It is typically known for families in the United States to build the altars within their houses as they don’t have the chance to visit or decorate the graves of their departed family members in Mexico. Therefore, since I was young, I always remember the altar on the corner of my living room filled with pictures of my grandparents, uncles and family friends along with their favorite breads and drinks. One of my favorite things about this tradition is that it gives us the opportunity to talk about those we miss and even those who we didn’t get the chance to meet. In my own experience, my mother tends to talk to us about our grandparents who I didn’t get a chance to meet. My mother will share stories and memories of them taking care of her and what type of people they were. I really enjoy these moments between family as I believe it gives us the opportunity to know more about our family and helps us get closer.
It is also important to acknowledge this celebration as a cultural tradition important for our community. During these days, Mexico welcomes many visitors to witness this tradition. It is important to take into consideration that it is a tradition dedicated to remembering those who have parted ways from their loved ones as it’s not related to Halloween or to be used as a scary theme for entertainment. Anyone is welcome to celebrate this tradition, but it is important for them to understand the real meaning of it in order to respect Hispanic culture.
As the date approaches, I look forward to building the ofrenda (altar) with my family. It is one of my favorite traditions that makes me feel content being part of a great community that honors and shows love to their departed ones. I also really enjoy and look forward to the many ways people build their altars. Many people dedicate themselves to creating the best altar they can and decorate it in many beautiful ways. I always look forward to seeing the altars my other family members and friends make. This is a tradition that I plan to continue and embrace throughout my life as it really makes me feel connected to my community and family.