Day of the Dead IS the Newest American Holiday

Veracruz Home ofrenda (altar) with banana leaf tamales, pan de muerto in shapes of little spirits & hot chocolate - Veracruz, Mexico

It's based on the Mexican celebration that honors & remembers the dead in a joyous way on November 1 & 2. It's a holiday steeped in traditions that are rigidly prescribed, that unfold in order with pageantry, color, abundance and love.

The holiday is celebrated over the course of three days with many activities occurring: preparing special foods; buying exorbitant amounts of wild marigolds, chocolate, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, incense, candles, mole, fruit, sweets & liquor at the open air markets; reuniting with friends & family - many who travel great distances at considerable expense to return home for the visits from their loved ones.

Fathers teach their children how to build the ofrendas in the house that are creatively decorated with items to delight the visiting spirits. Women gather to make hundreds of tamales in both banana leaves and corn husks for both the spirits & guests to enjoy.

sugar skull cookies

At midnight on October 31, the spirits of departed children (angelitos) descend the heavens to spend a day with their families who have missed them so much. Mothers & fathers make special child size ofrendas filled with everything in miniature – tiny candies, toys, little decorations and other baby delights. When I was in Veracruz, I met a mother who was drying shrimp to make tiny tamales "without any chile" for my "angelito".

After the house decorations are done and ofrendas complete, families spend the day communing with their muertos. They sit around their beautiful ofrenda, talking, drinking, listening to music and telling stories - mothers, fathers, grandparents and children... spending the day together.

After spending so much time in Mexican villages for Day of the Dead, I know the elaborate Day of the Dead celebrations reassure folks that they will not be forgotten once they pass.

In Mexico, its obvious that the line is blurred between the living and the dead. The dead still lend advice, teach and listen to the living. They are never really gone. And the celebration of Day of the Dead assure the living that they will never be forgotten.

While Americans are embracing this holiday, it looks different in the U.S. than in Mexico. It's taking on a more independent style as folks are inspired by, but not bound by, the Mexican traditions. Americans are choosing the parts they feel comfortable in blending into their own religious & cultural beliefs and creating new family traditions that honor their beloved muertos!

Young Catrina in purple

How to Host a Day of the Dead Party: 

It's easy and there's no wrong way to host a DoD party! There's still time to invite your guests. I find if I invite about 20 guests, about 14 show up... a nice manageable number. You can mix & match from the following suggestions.

Invitations: 

Check out PaperlessPost.com and browse for "Day of the Dead" or "skeletons" to send your party invitations via e-mail.

Ask your guests to bring something to add to your ofrenda like a photo or personal item that represents their departed loved one. It will mean more if everyone participates to create the ofrenda.

Ofrenda (Altar)

Make space in your living room for an ofrenda - a table and shelves covered in colorful fabric or oilcloth or papel picado "largitos" banners work well. Make it easy for your guests to place their items on the altar. Honor as many muertos as you like!

You can have the ofrenda "basics" purchased and on the living room floor and have your friends help arrange the flowers, candles, twinkle lights, fruit, copal incense and pan de muerto... As the night goes on, the ofrenda just keeps getting better!

Remember to take photos of the altar & your friends.

Cempasuchil, or wild marigolds, are the traditional flower of Day of the Dead Storytelling is the essence of Day of the Dead

Ofrenda building is a great place to share funny stories about the loved ones being honored... Ask your guests questions of like, "Did your grandmother ever go skinny-dipping?" or "Did your grandfather dance?"

Steer the conversation to the joyous memories of the departed. How did the person live?

Since it's chilly during Day of the Dead, pozole, carnitas and tamales are great choices for the main dish - I found delicious tamales at our local farmer's market. (I also know I'll always find a rogue guy selling his grandmother's tamales out of his truck at the Mexican market.)

Keep the food easy so you can enjoy the party! You don't have to cook up an entire pig like this guy in Veracruz! Get your guests involved by asking them to bring some food (or tequila) to share. Offer a toast with skull shot glasses.

Even the busiest can pick up some delicious take out Mexican food at a local restaurant.

Wear a new Day of the Dead apron to your party!

Meat for day of the dead parties You don't need to cook up a storm and make everything from scratch for a DoD party

Sweets

Sugar Skull Sugar Cookies

What party doesn't need colorful cookies? Now you can make delicious sugar cookies and decorate them like traditional Mexican sugar skulls!

Decorate your sugar skull sugar cookies with edible glitter, candies, colorful icing & edible luster dust. Unleash your artistic creativity!

Don't forget to serve hot "chocolate" which is the tradition in Mexico. Just make hot cocoa and add a little cinnamon for an authentic taste.

Sugar Skull Decorating

Decorate sugar skulls - a favorite activity for kids & adults alike. You can make the sugar skull blanks 6 months ahead of time. Original mediums are best if you're in a hurry or if you have to make LOTS.

Icing should be made the night before the party - at least 5 colors. Have 24 or more disposable icing bags on the table - don't over fill - use only 3 ounces, or 3 inches full so they're easy to use.

Use buttons, bottle caps, beads, sequins or any little found items in your junk drawer to adorn your sugar skulls.

Decorated sugar skulls may be saved from year to year - just pack away in cardboard boxes, layered with thick layers of newsprint. They last for 6-10 years if kept dry! Grow your collection!

Spread the party out and decorate skulls in your patio or garage. Don't forget the music!

Sugar skull instructions, tips & tricks

Crafts the High Point of your Party!

If you want a change from sugar skulls, we have these wonderful clay skulls that can be painted with acrylic paints or glitter glue. The skulls cover a votive candle which can decorate your table! A fast and neat craft project for your guests to take home.

These skulls can be glazed and fired too. Quantity discounts for your party. They are well made by a family near San Miguel de Allende.

Dress the tables

Skeleton fabric adds lots of pizazz to your serving table or your ofrenda. Or cover patio or dining tables with our Frida Mexican oilcloth.

Frida lime oilcloth for your table

Day of the Dead Papel Picado banners hanging from trees Decorate your house

Set the mood with candles cups lining the walkway to your front door.

Hang papel picado banners throughout the house, dining room, kitchen and patio.

You can never have too many candles or marigolds!

Focal point

Show off some of your favorite pieces from your collection to decorate your serving table or ofrenda. Explore our "collector's gallery."

Papier mache skulls in assorted colors

Sugar skull candy tins

Thank Your Guests

When I go to homes in villages during Day of the Dead, the gracious hosts always send you home with a mound of homemade tortillas, tamales, a big bouquet of flowers, a sugar skull or a stack of pan de muerto bread. The generosity astounds me.

Keep the tradition going by making something for your guests to take home. Or give a little decorated sugar skull, mini skeleton or a pair of sugar skull socks! We have tattoo booklets and these new sugar skull candy tins on our Under $15 page.

Photo of Angela in a Oaxaca cemetery, Mexico, during Day of the Dead Mexicans understand a beautiful simple truth about life - it is good to stay close to your "muertos". It's a good thing to continue to remember them, learn from them and share your feelings with them. It's good to teach your children how to express their love as much as it is to reassure aging folks that they won't be forgotten.

I feel very fortunate to have fallen in love with this holiday that is so generously shared with us by our friends south of the border. Most people will never be able to visit Oaxaca, Michoacan or Veracruz, or sit in a candlelit cemetery as the gates to heaven open at midnight to allow the spirits to reunite with their families here on earth.

As Day of the Dead grows in popularity around the world, it will morph and twist a bit. It may be commercialized & hijacked by big-box holiday makers. But the true lovers of Day of the Dead will keep the faith and magic central, and honoring their loved ones will remain the essence of the holiday.

Warm wishes to you and your "muertos"!

Angela Villalba & all of us here at MexicanSugarSkull.com

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