Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Ezekiel Stear, Assistant Professor of Spanish World Languages, Literatures & Cultures, Auburn University

Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations blend Indigenous customs and European thinking in surprising ways

In Mexico City, parades on Day of the Dead feature people in colorful costumes. FG Trade Latin/Collection E+ via Getty Images

Every year, five hours west of Mexico City on Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, residents flock to the island of Janitzio to visit the graves of their departed relatives.

On the evening of Nov. 1, the Noche de animas, or Night of the Souls in Purgatory, families will bring a meal to share with their ancestors. They will also use the time to clean the graves and decorate them with elaborate displays of candles and marigolds. Some will spend the night sleeping among the tombstones.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.