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Dia de la Muertos: A New View

Americans have a misunderstanding of Dia de los Muertos. Here is what you need to know about the iconic holiday in Mexico.

Libby Winkler
4 min readSep 30, 2023
Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash

Dia de la Muertos: a Gringo’s View

As a foreigner living in Mexico for several years, I have come to love and appreciate Mexico’s rich cultural traditions. One of my favorite holidays in Mexico is Dia de la Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead.

It is a celebration of life, death, and love that takes place over two days, November 1st and 2nd, and it is a time for the living to remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away.

Let me share my Gringo perspective on Dia de la Muertos and why I find this holiday so fascinating and joyous.

The Colors and Decorations

Dia de la Muertos is a vibrant, colorful celebration that is reflected in both the decorations and the dresses of the people.

Everywhere you look, there are brightly colored papel picado (cut paper banners), marigold flowers (known as cempasuchil), and ofrendas (altars) adorned with candles, fruit, and other offerings for the deceased.

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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