Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve. All Saints’ Day. All Souls’ Day. El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). These three days of October 31st to November 2nd are traditionally days to remember those who have passed before us.
All Saints’ Day is celebrated on November 1st by Christians worldwide. First formalized by Pope Gregory III in the 700’s, various traditions, remembrances, and celebrations have grown over time.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the day is considered a Feast Day and a Holy Day of Obligation, although in certain areas the obligation to attend Mass may be transferred to the first Sunday in November. Catholics are encouraged to visit cemeteries during the first week of November and pray for the dead.
In certain congregations of the United Methodist Church, an acolyte will light a candle while a list of the deceased for that year is read by the clergy.
Certain regions also have their own traditions. Central Europe will commemorate the day by lighting candles and visiting relatives’ graves, the Philippines clean, repair, and repaint the graves while offering prayers and bringing flowers, and Mexico and Central America celebrate the El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a celebration of those who have passed. Full of bright colors and with many symbolic traditions, the traditions have evolved through a mixture of Indigenous and Spanish Catholic influences to become the celebration that it is today.
The centerpiece of the celebration is the Ofrenda or the altar where pictures of the departed loved ones are placed. Adorning the altar are symbols of life’s elements: earth, air, wind, and fire. Candles are placed to represent fire while banners of perforated paper flutter in the breeze to represent air. Water is placed on the ofrenda and bread is placed as a symbol of earth’s bounty. Ofrendas are then further personalized with important reminders of the departed loved ones to create unique tributes. Celebrated from October 31st through November 2nd, the celebration corresponds to the traditional Christian days of All Hallow’s Eve (Oct. 31st), All Saints Day (Nov. 1st) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2nd). Contrasted to more somber remembrances, the celebrations are full of color, music, laughter, and good food as families gather to remember the memories and life of their departed loved ones.
Locally, San Antonio commemorates Dia de los Muertos early with the Muertos Fest and a parade on the Riverwalk as well as ofrendas at the Spanish missions while Meadowlawn will erect our own ofrenda for the community.
As we enter this time of remembrance, let us honor the memory of those who have gone before us.
Author: Brian Rankin
Published: October 31, 2025
