Dia de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated in several countries around the world. Here are the countries that celebrate Dia de los Muertos:
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Mexico: Dia de los Muertos is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is a national symbol of the country. The celebrations were launched when Mexicans believed that the dead would be offended by mourning and sadness. So a celebration was launched annually to honor the dead as a day separate from the grief of funerals, memorials, and wakes. Mexicans celebrate Dia de los Muertos with sugar skull-shaped candies and figures to eliminate the border between the dead and the living.
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El Salvador: El Salvador has its own rich history in the festival they call La Calabiuza. It is a celebration not always held as it does not come without controversy. When it is celebrated, this takes place early in November and is steeped in Indigenous principles. In El Salvador, the people dress like skeletons and dance through the city.
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Guatemala: The Kite Festival of Guatemala is a celebration of Dia de los Muertos. The festival is held on November 1 and 2, and it is a time when families come together to fly kites and remember their loved ones who have passed away.
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Ecuador: In Ecuador, their version of Day of the Dead is known as El Día de los Difuntos, which means “The Day of the Deceased.” This day is only celebrated on November 2nd, but is centered around the same ideas and traditions. Families gather to celebrate deceased relatives and enjoy food and pastries together.
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Philippines: The Philippines also celebrate Dia de los Muertos. The holiday is known as Araw ng mga Patay, which means "Day of the Dead." It is celebrated on November 1 and 2, and it is a time when families come together to remember their loved ones who have passed away.
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Haiti: Haiti celebrates Dia de los Muertos with a holiday called Fete Gede. The holiday is celebrated on November 1 and 2, and it is a time when families come together to remember their loved ones who have passed away.
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Brazil: In Brazil, Dia de Finados is celebrated on November 2, and it is a time when families come together to remember their loved ones who have passed away.
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Spain: Spain takes a calmer approach to Dia de los Muertos with its own Todos Los Santos holiday. Like in Brazil, this is primarily a religious holiday. This is a day when many attend church and pray amongst family members. However, like in other Latin countries, Spaniards visit cemeteries and bring flowers and offerings to their relatives.
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Ireland: The origin of western-style Halloween celebrations is “Samhain”, a Celtic holiday that falls on October 31st and means “the end of the harvest”. It represents the moment when villagers would store their provisions and sacrifice the livestock they would need to survive the winter. To scare the evil spirits away they would build large bonfires to protect the living.
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India: In India, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated as Pitru Paksha, which is a 16-day period when families come together to remember their loved ones who have passed away.
Overall, six countries celebrate Dia de los Muertos: Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Haiti. However, other countries like Brazil, Spain, Ireland, and India also have their own versions of the holiday.
