Read at 3 different speeds

Day of the Dead - 15th November 2023

Thousands of people filled the streets in Mexico City to celebrate the Day of the Dead. It’s celebrated at the start of November. It’s at the same time as the Christian All Souls celebration, but it’s much more exciting.

Loud, colourful parades celebrate life and death, and families visit cemeteries to be close to their dead relatives.

Festivalgoer: "The closeness between our souls, the closeness to our dead, more than mourning them is to celebrate, so we’re happy."

How this festival developed in Mexico is unclear. Some people think that it grew from the traditions of Aztec peoples. Others think it’s connected to Christianity. What is clear is that the Day of the Dead has a long history, and the celebrations are getting bigger and better over time.

Festivalgoer: "It is a tradition that we have had for a long time, and I am glad that we have been improving it little by little with different carnivals and parades, it is something that has always been like that."

In 2008, UNESCO added the festival to its list of world cultural events. This status has brought more and more tourists to see it. The festival was also included in the James Bond film 'Spectre'.

People display photos of dead relatives in their homes. They also bring their favourite foods to their graves.

Sugar skulls are given as gifts to friends and relatives. Beautiful skull designs are also painted on people’s faces.

Tourist Sapeer Kadoch loves how the festival celebrates death.

Sapeer Kadoch: "I think it's really beautiful the way that Mexicans celebrate death. I think it's so special and so unique, it's not something that you see anywhere else in the world so it really, it warms my heart."