There is a sentence many people hear after a loved one dies: They would want you to move on.
Maybe. But Mexico has another idea.
Our loved ones look after us from another world and we should celebrate their memory. That way, we know that are never alone and always loved.
In the days leading up to November 1 and 2, families across Mexico set out photographs, candles, marigolds, favorite foods, coffee, tequila, mole, pan de muerto—whatever would make a beloved person feel expected at home.
The flowers are there to help guide them back. The food is there because love remembers details. Not just that someone existed, but what they laughed at, what they drank, what song they played too loudly, what they always ordered at dinner.
The Disney movie Coco gave much of the world its first glimpse of this. But the real thing is not a costume. It is an act of memory—of family, of love and connectedness.
You do not need to have Mexican roots to understand why it resonates. Most of us have someone we would like to sit with one more time.
Read more if you want to go deeper:
- Coming to terms with grief: the psychological perks of Day of the Dead — Why the holiday can make room for grief without making grief frightening.
- Day of the Dead etiquette: Your guide to the holiday as a foreigner — A thoughtful guide to understanding the tradition respectfully if you visit.
- Day of the Dead 2025 in photos: How Mexico celebrated this year — A moving visual journey from Mexico City to Oaxaca and Michoacán.
- What’s on in October in Mexico City — A practical guide for anyone considering an October visit.
Travis Bembenek, CEOThe best stories are the ones that remind you of something you already knew, but had forgotten how to say. They comfort us, make us feel less alone in tumultuous times.
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