For many Mexicans and other Latinx, Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is a special time during which the living honor those who have gone before them. These days, it’s become more popular around the world, thanks to movies (we’re looking at you, “Coco”!), social media and a general love of sugar skulls. But being a cultural holiday (and even somewhat religious for some), it’s important to know the facts before celebrating Día de los Muertos with kids (and even without).
Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is a special time — every November 1st and 2nd — during which the living honor those who have gone before them.
Taking place annually on November 1st and 2nd, Día de los Muertos is a two-day holiday observed in areas of Mexico and beyond based on celebrations observed by the ancient Aztec and Nahua people thousands of years ago. It was believed that the recently deceased passed on to the Land of the Dead before going to a final resting place and that the living could make offerings to their dearly departed on certain days to help them on their way. While their rituals were performed in August, Día de los Muertos as it is now is a combination of these original celebrations combined with All Souls Day (which was introduced to Mexico by European colonizers), which is also observed in November. And while it is celebrated just after Halloween, it is not Mexican Halloween.
While Día de los Muertos is celebrated just after Halloween, it is not Mexican Halloween.
Today, families gather to make foods and paper flowers and sugar skulls for their ofrendas (altars), don calavera makeup, visit and clean up the graves of their dead and generally celebrate the lives that were once lived. And though there are certain practices that shouldn’t be done by non-Mexican or non-Latinx individuals without being invited to do so by members of the community and having a good understanding of their significance, there are many ways in which anyone can celebrate and participate in Día de los Muertos activities with kids respectfully.
1. Read books together about the holiday
Before you get started with your festivities, it’s always good to educate yourself about the holiday. Take a trip to your local library or bookstore and read up on the history as well as Día de los Muertos traditions. Here are a few recommendations (depending on the ages and reading levels of the children):
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Image via The Storybook Garden -
Image via Cafe con Libros -
Image via Amazon
- La Catrina: Emotions / Emociones by Patty Rodriguez (Ages 0-4)
- I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story / Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un Cuento del Día de los Muertos by Janice Levy (Ages 4-8)
- The Festival of Bones / El festival de las calaveras by Luis San Vicente (Ages 4-8)
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Image via Scholastic -
Image via Better World Books -
Image via Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore
- Rosita y Conchita by Eric Gonazlez and Eric Haeger (Ages 6-9)
- Pablo Remembers by George Ancona (Ages 4-8)
- Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (Ages 6-10)
2. Make sugar skulls together
Sugar skulls have become extremely popular in recent years, in part due to the commercialization of the holiday. But once you understand a bit more about their place in the festivities, making them is an excellent way to celebrate Día de los Muertos with kids. Stephanie Chavez, a Mexican-American food blogger at Spanglish Spoon and small business owner, says she loves hosting sugar-skull-making parties with loved ones.
“Decorating sugar skulls with family and friends is a great way to add a personal touch to an ofrenda that only you can add because each sugar skull is unique to that person you are creating it for. Just like in life, no two are ever the same.”
— STEPHANIE CHAVEZ, BLOGGER, SPANGLISH SPOON
“Decorating sugar skulls with family and friends is a great way to add a personal touch to an ofrenda that only you can add because each sugar skull is unique to that person you are creating it for. Just like in life, no two are ever the same,” says Chavez. “It’s a personal, family-friendly experience that gives us an opportunity to come together at the table to have a different kind of conversation about life while creating new memories together.”
Chavez has a wonderful sugar skull recipe for folks to try at home. If, however, you aren’t quite as handy in the kitchen, you can always purchase a sugar skull-making kit from her Etsy store Sugar Skull Co. or another Latinx-owned shop.
3. Collect or craft marigolds (cempasúchil)
The tradition of using Mexican marigolds (or cempasúchil) dates as far back as at least the 16th century, recorded as having been used in Aztec rituals to celebrate the dead, rooted in a romantic mythology. Today, we see both live and paper cempasúchil used on ofrendas, laid atop tombs and worn in flower crowns.
After reading about its use, craft your own flowers with kids, using an online tutorial like this paper marigold DIY by Kathy Cano-Murillo (aka The Crafty Chica) or this tissue-paper flower how-to by Monica Olivera (MommyMaestra). You can also visit your local plant and flower shop to try and purchase fresh ones, or even purchase reusable paper chains of cempasúchil from a number of Latinx vendors, like Friducha Y Mas, Una Crafty Teacher and other Latinx-owned shops found on Etsy.
4. Create a nicho
Nichos are small three-dimensional scenes created as shadow boxes or sometimes set inside tin boxes. They are fairly common in Mexican craft markets and are often used in Día de los Muertos altars.
You can create a nicho box as a way of commemorating the life of a lost loved one by using a photo or drawing of the individual, including aspects of their life (their occupation in life, their hobbies, etc.). The International Folk Art Museum has a great nicho box DIY and lesson plans, but you can find plenty more throughout the internet, including YouTube videos like this paper niche how-to from Craftología.
You can also attend classes online like this nichos-making workshop from Craft Contemporary.
5. Bake (and eat) pan de muerto
Pan de muerto (bread of the dead) is one of the most common foods placed on the ofrenda, so why not try your hand at baking some? Nicole Reyna, a Greek-American food blogger at Flan and Apple Pie, taught herself how to bake it and now celebrates the holiday respectfully with her Mexican husband and son.
“The sugar-dusted bread that is laced with orange zest welcomes in this season of remembering those closest to us who have passed on. Each year, we look forward to filling our kitchen with these smells and making memories together as a family.”
— NICOLE REYNA, BLOGGER, FLAN AND APPLE PIE
“I love making pan de muerto every year, not only to add to our Día de Muertos altar but also to nibble on as an after-dinner treat,” says the Pittsburgh-based mom. “The sugar-dusted bread that is laced with orange zest welcomes in this season of remembering those closest to us who have passed on. Each year, we look forward to filling our kitchen with these smells and making memories together as a family.”
Try making her pan de muerto recipe with curious children.
6. Cook or bake even more traditional foods
What is a celebration without food? There are so many different kinds of Día de los Muertos food to make. Mole is a dish that’s so complex it’s often only used on special occasions, and what is Día de Muertos if not one of the most special events of the year? Lola Wiarco Dweck of Lola’s Cocina has an excellent mole negro with chicken recipe up on her blog that will definitely impress your entire family. It’s a multi-day project, so a great way to bond with kids as well! For dessert (and for the ofrenda), you can also try her marigold and orange blossom sugar cookies (get some skull-shaped cookie cutters for the little ones to help with) as well as Mexican hot chocolate (a popular ofrenda recipe youngsters will love stealing sips from).
7. Cut up some papel picado
Papel picado is a form of folk art found in Mexico and some other Latin American countries and created by cutting up tissue paper into elaborate designs. The result is colorful and beautiful, with intricate images of anything from flowers and animals to calaveras (skulls) and more. It’s also often used to decorate the ofrendas, which is why this is another fun craft you can do in preparation for celebrating Día de los Muertos with kids. Check out this papel picado YouTube tutorial from LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes or this papel picado activity from the Hispanic Society Museum and Library.
8. Build your altar
Now that you’ve crafted and baked, it’s time to put together your ofrenda. Have kids scout a good location with a table (preferably with an additional stand or two — you want lots of space and levels to it, if possible). Next, have them gather up supplies including photos of the deceased, candles, the cempasuchil, the pan de muerto, papel picado, calaveras , fruits and the nichos, and have them arrange them on the altar space. Alcohol (like some mezcal or tequila) is also often left on the altar, but you can do that part yourself. You can look online for more Día de los Muertos altar ideas as well!
9. Sign up for a class
These days, you can do a lot of learning by simply logging onto your computer. If you’re feeling like you need more guidance, companies like Outschool are already on it, hosting a slew of classes to help your children get a better understanding of the holiday.
“As someone of Mexican heritage, I’ve been actively celebrating Día de Muertos with my family for the past few years and love to share my love for this special time of year with any student who is interested,” says Sara Youngbar, a Las Vegas-based Outschool teacher, who is hosting a Día de los Muertos class for ages 8-12.
Those who take Youngbar’s class will learn about the history and misconceptions of the holiday and even learn a few Spanish words along the way. “As a Latina teacher, my class provides an authentic look into the holiday and appropriate ways to celebrate, especially,” she says, “for those who do not have access to Día de Muertos events in their local community.”
Chris Colin, another Latinx teacher at the company, is teaching a “Make your own Skull Mask” class for the holiday. “We will create a Mexican skull out of paper and other resources as we explore the culture and reasoning behind this holiday,” says Colin. “My Outschool class helps kids learn about the importance of Día de Los Muertos and how, even in our different practices and traditions as humans, we share similar values of family and community.”
“My Outschool class helps kids learn about the importance of Día de Los Muertos and how, even in our different practices and traditions as humans, we share similar values of family and community.”
— CHRIS COLIN, OUTSCHOOL TEACHER
You can also look and see if there are any classes to sign up for in your neighborhood. The Latino Cultural Arts Center in Denver hosts a number of Ofrendas workshops annually for Día de los Muertos, including ones for making catrina worry dolls, flower wreaths and alebrijes (mythical creatures, popular in Mexican folk art), among other things. Check your local libraries, museums and cultural centers for info on classes in your area.
10. Enjoy some Día de los Muertos movies
While movies are no substitute for reading about and experiencing Día de los Muertos firsthand, we know that days of crafting and cooking might leave you and the littles looking for some downtime. Fortunately there are a few good films to watch about this Latinx celebration. Chances are you’ve watched Disney’s “Coco” at least once — but if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?! The movie is absolutely gorgeous and features an incredible soundtrack to boot. Bonus, you can watch it in Spanish, watch the Sing-A-Long version and follow it up with the concert A Celebration of the Music from Coco, featuring a number of Latinx actors, singers, and other celebs.
But if you are looking for more, we also recommend watching “The Book of Life” (on Disney Plus), “Día de Muertos” (on Amazon Prime) and the short film “Hasta Los Huesos” (on YouTube), among others.
11. Visit the graves of your late loved ones
One of the biggest aspects of Día de los Muertos involves actually going to visit the final resting place of your departed loved ones. If you happen to live near a cemetery where a family member or friend was laid to rest, you can go spend some time there. Clean up their gravestone, leave offerings like favorite foods or beverages or small items, and simply spend time with them. If your loved one was cremated and had their ashes spread in a certain area, like a beach, under a tree or on an isolated mountain hike, you can do the same by visiting the area intentionally and spending time in your memories of them.
With younger children, you can visit these places and tell them stories about who these people once were and answer their questions about them. Even if you don’t have loved ones in a nearby cemetery, you can still visit and take a quiet walk and have some honest conversations with your kids about the impermanence of life and how those who go before us always live on in our hearts and memories.
12. Honor the favorite activities of your dearly departed
If it’s not possible to visit the final resting place of those you have lost, that’s also OK. This is part of why we create the altar. It’s not just to have the offerings out but also to have a space near which to meditate and think on the lives of those who went before us.
Bianca Bergado, social media and community manager at Tia Lupita Foods, grew up celebrating Día de los Muertos and believes this is a great way to share the holiday with children. “Spending time to read books aloud with their ancestors is a way to practice reading skills, as well as spend time with those departed,” says Bergado. “Cooking the departed’s favorite food, participating in a former favorite activity (like a game of sports or watching their favorite movie) would also be a fun way to connect with kids and keep traditions alive.”
13. Attend a local Día event (put on by the Mexican/Latinx community)
One of the best ways to celebrate this holiday, however, is by experiencing it yourself. If you’re able to travel internationally with your family, going to Mexico to celebrate is unbeatable. If that’s not in the cards, however, it’s great to find U.S. cities that host festivities, such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, even Ft. Lauderdale. Just make sure that the event you attend is being hosted by the Mexican, Chicanx, and/or Latinx community, that they are represented and that the traditions are being respected. And then, of course, have fun!
