People around the world have been celebrating the Day of the Dead, bringing light and colour to streets and cemeteries. The holiday blends pre-Colombian rituals with the Roman Catholic observance of All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2. The Day of the Dead, or El Dia de los Muertos, is not for mourning or grieving, but for celebrating the lives of those who have passed.
The origins of Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, can be traced back hundreds of years to an Aztec festival that honored the goddess of the dead, Mictecacihuatl. The party lasted a month. With the arrival of European colonists, the Catholic Church shrank it to a couple of days, coinciding with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, usually the first two days of November. Family and friends decorate altars with offerings such as candles, flowers, photos and meaningful memorabilia.
Known in Spanish as "Dia de los Muertos," the Day of the Dead is one of Mexico's most important annual festivities and a huge international attraction. Colorful costumes and parade floats are used to preserve memories and honor dead family membersImage: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images The festivities begin on October 31, when families welcome the spirits of deceased children. The parade also features colorful, fantastical sculptures known as alebrijesImage: Luis Cortes/REUTERS
In Charlotte, North Carolina, a black food truck moves slowly down the road. It doesn't deliver food it delivers art. Inside, lights, copal incense, pan de muerto (sweet bread for Day of the Dead), and a calavera (skull decoration) welcome anyone who steps into the Mobile Art Studio, the traveling project of Mexican artivist Rosalia Torres-Weiner, 64, which this year's Dia de Muertos, or Day of Dead has been transformed into an immersive, free experience for Latino communities in the southern United States.