Day of the Dead 2021

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is not, as is commonly thought, a Mexican version of Halloween. The holiday roughly began some 3,000 years ago. It is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations!

Dia de los Angelitos (Spirits of the children)

This holiday starts at midnight on Nov. 1, and spirits of all deceased children are believed to be reunited with their families for 24 hours. Families build ofrendas, with the departed child’s favorite snacks, candies, toys and photographs to encourage a visit from their departed children. The names of the departed children will often be written on a sugar skull.

Día de los Difuntos (Spirits of the adults)

At midnight of the following day, Nov. 2, the celebrations shift to honor the lives of the departed adults. The night is filled with laughter and fun memories.

Día de los Muertos (Spirits of all the dead)

This holiday is a city-wide celebration. People come together, dress up with Calavera painted faces (skeletons), have parades, music and dancing. Cemetery visits are also common on the last day as families will decorate the gravesites with Marigold flowers, gifts, and sugar skulls with the departeds’ names on them.

Hispanic LatinX Alliance ERG presents El Día De Los Muertos Monday, Nov. 1 from 12:00 – 12:30 PM on Zoom. Please click here to join. Are you interested in learning more about our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)? Text ERG to 45991.

Don’t forget to send your traditional cultural food recipes for Houston Methodist Around the World Digital Cookbook by Friday, Oct. 29. Please submit a recipe here. Cookbook will be available In mid-November.

Please keep a lookout on Houston Methodist’s Facebook and Instagram page highlighting our diversity with an employee sharing their culture with us each week.

Join the conversation on Twitter @HMethodistCares.