By now, Puerto Vallarta's popular boardwalk is decorated with more than 40 monumental Catrinas, complemented by 38 altars that will be strategically placed around the municipal presidency building.

Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a colorful and vibrant Mexican holiday with deep historical and cultural roots. This annual celebration, observed on November 1st and 2nd, is a time for families and communities to honor and remember their deceased loved ones. Did you know the origins of Dia de Muertos can be traced back to a rich blend of indigenous Mesoamerican traditions and Spanish colonial influences?

Long before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the Aztecs, Mayans, and Purepecha, had their own unique ways of commemorating the dead. These ancient civilizations believed there is a cyclical nature of life and death, and they had rituals and festivals dedicated to death deities.

The Aztecs, in particular, celebrated a month-long festival known as "Mictecacihuatl," dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, who presided over the afterlife. This celebration took place in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, which corresponds to modern-day August. It was a time when they honored deceased ancestors and believed that the spirits of the dead returned to the world of the living.

Spanish conquistadors arrived in the early 16th century. They encountered these indigenous traditions and attempted to convert the indigenous peoples to Catholicism. Eventually the ancient traditions merged with their own creating a fusion of indigenous beliefs and Catholicism. This fusion gave rise to the modern Dia de Muertos.

The Spanish introduced the observance of All Saints' Day (November 1st) and All Souls' Day (November 2nd) to Mexico. These are Catholic holidays dedicated to honoring and praying for the deceased. In Mexico, they became intertwined with the existing indigenous traditions, and Dia de Muertos was born.

Central to Dia de Muertos is the creation of ofrendas, or altars, that are adorned with various elements. You can see them all over the Puerto Vallarta and in many public and private places and cemeteries. They include items like marigolds (the traditional flower of the dead), candles, sugar skulls, photographs of the deceased, favorite foods, and beverages. Families believe that these offerings help guide the spirits of the departed back to the world of the living for a brief reunion.


The use of Calaveras, or sugar skulls, and the iconic La Catrina skeleton figure, popularized by artist José Guadalupe Posada, have become prominent symbols of Dia de los Muertos. Calaveras are often made of sugar or chocolate and are beautifully decorated. La Catrina, an elegantly dressed skeleton, satirically represents the idea that death is a universal fate and should be embraced with humor and grace.


Dia de Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico and can vary in customs and traditions from one region to another. For example, in Puerto Vallarta and other parts of Mexico, parades and processions are popular. It others, the focus is on visiting cemeteries to clean and decorate graves.

In essence, Dia de los Muertos is a vivid and heartfelt celebration that reflects the enduring cultural fusion of indigenous and Spanish traditions in Mexico. It is an opportunity to remember deceased loved ones, celebrate their lives, and reaffirm the belief that death is not the end, but a continuation of the cycle of life. It's a powerful testament to the resilience of culture and the enduring connection between the living and the dead.

Make sure you take time to participate in Dia de Muertos wherever you may be. Processions are fun and colorful, and the message of connecting the living and the dead brings back fond memories of loved ones who have passed.