The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated mainly in Latin America and by Latinos (and others) living in the United States and Canada.The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.The celebration occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November,in connection with the Catholic holy days of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day which take place on those days.Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased,using sugar skulls,marigolds,and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed,and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years,and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl (known in English as "The Lady of the Dead").
Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world; for example,it is a public holiday in Brazil,where many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches.In Spain,there are festivals and parades,and at the end of the day,people gather at cemeteries and pray for their loved ones who have died.Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the Philippines,and similarly-themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.
