A Gringo’s Guide to Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead

By Liddy Romero

You’ve probably seen her: La Catrina. The elegant skeleton with a wide hat and sly grin. She’s the most recognizable image of Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead.

La Catrina skeleton figure in elegant hat, iconic symbol of Día de los Muertos.
( The Catrina stands as a powerful figure in this celebration.)

Celebrated for centuries and rich with meaning, this unique holiday bursts with vibrant colors, iconic imagery, and heartfelt traditions. But how much do you really know about Día de los Muertos? Let’s explore together.


The Origins of Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos dates back centuries to the Aztec Empire in central Mexico. The Aztecs honored the annual return of the underworld queen, who ensured that the bones of the dead were cared for — bones they believed helped create new life.

When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, this observance blended with Catholic holidays like All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, forming the holiday we know today.

💡 Quick note: Día de los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween.

  • Halloween = spooky fun and costumes.

  • Día de los Muertos = a sacred remembrance of loved ones, honoring the bonds between the living and the dead.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s somber. Expect music, dancing, laughter, and stories of abuelitas, tías, and friends — but always with reverence.


Marigolds are favorites during Dia De los Muertos and make for excellent color while decorating with cookies

( Romero cookies make for wonderul delicious offerings at ofrendas and anywhere people gather to honor.)

Symbols of Día de los Muertos

💀 Skulls (Calaveras)

Colorful sugar skulls represent departed souls. Each hue has meaning:

  • Purple = pain

  • Pink = hope and celebration

  • Orange = sun and marigolds

Colorful sugar skulls representing departed souls on a Día de los Muertos.

(Sugar skulls are fun and yet remind us all of our mortality)

🌼 Ofrendas (Altars)

An ofrenda is a tiered altar decorated with:

  • Earth: food grown in soil, like pan de muerto or fruit

  • Wind: papel picado (colorful cut paper)

  • Fire: candles to guide spirits

  • Water: glasses to quench the thirst of visiting souls

  • Marigolds: flowers believed to attract the dead back home

Traditional Día de los Muertos altar with candles, marigolds, and photos of loved ones

(Ofrendas can be big and colorful, or small and peaceful)

👒 La Catrina

Originally a 1900s etching, later popularized by Diego Rivera, La Catrina now symbolizes the universality of death — and the joy of laughing in its face.

 

Dos and Don’ts of Día de los Muertos

✅ Do:

  • Get your face painted respectfully — not as a costume, but as recognition that we are all equal in death.

  • Make your own ofrenda. Even small ones at home are powerful tributes to loved ones.

  • Attend local festivals. Supporting them keeps the tradition alive.

  • Enjoy traditional treats — from pan de muerto to Mexican Wedding Cookies, which are perfect to include on an altar or share at gatherings.

❌ Don’t:

  • Treat ofrendas like props. If visiting a home or formal altar, observe quietly and respectfully.

  • Stroll through cemeteries for selfies. Graveside decorations are intimate family offerings, not TikTok backdrops.

  • Buy mass-produced “holiday” sweets at chain supermarkets. Support local panaderías and independent bakers instead.

Milagro burning heart card
(If you order our cookies, remember to include our rich, cultural greeting cards with a personal note. Our milagros - above, or our Honor card - below are just a few options)
Our greetings cards provide respectful communication of our heritage and culture

Part of a Global Tradition

Día de los Muertos is unique, but not alone in honoring the dead:

  • Obon (Japan): paper lanterns guide spirits home.

  • Pitru Paksha (India): food offerings for ancestors.

  • Pchum Ben (Cambodia): welcoming the deceased into the world of the living.

  • Hungry Ghost Festival (China & SE Asia): spirits return, fed by offerings.

These traditions all affirm the same truth: remembrance strengthens connection.

How to Celebrate Respectfully

Want to join the festivities? Here’s how to start:

  • Build a small altar at home with photos, marigolds, candles, and your loved one’s favorite foods.

  • Write a calavera poem — playful, satirical verses that honor someone with humor and wit.

  • Attend a local festival. Nearly every U.S. city with Hispanic heritage hosts one, with mariachi, cumbia, art, and candlelit processions.

And yes — get your face painted if you’d like. Most Mexican-Americans won’t be offended, especially when done respectfully. In fact, many even blend Halloween into their Día de los Muertos observances.

Romero Mexican Wedding Cookies with marigolds and sugar skull decorations

(Romero cookies are perfect Day of the Dead Desserts to include in gatherings, community events and ofrenda offerings)

Final Reflection

Día de los Muertos isn’t just about remembering death — it’s about celebrating life. Each altar, each marigold, each sugar skull reminds us that our loved ones live on through memory, story, and ritual.

So this year, don’t just observe — participate. Build an altar, bake or buy authentic treats, share stories, and honor those who came before.

Because in celebrating them, we celebrate ourselves.

Owner, Liddy Romero’s personal ofrenda, proving you don’t need a ton of room to pay respect to our loved ones.

(Liddy Romero's personal ofrenda honoring the generations of women who came before her.)


👉 Looking for authentic treats to add to your ofrenda? Romero Cookies bakes traditional Mexican Wedding Cookies — made from the same recipes our family has shared for generations. Thoughtful, nostalgic, and perfect for your Day of the Dead table.

Shop Mexican Wedding Cookies for Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead

 

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