El Dí de Los Muertos, as known as, "The day of the dead- is a time of happiness, remembering, festivities, and feasting. Special foods, such as candy often in the shape of skulls, breads such as pan de muerto and hojaldra and also rosquete, which are all sweet breads, made for los Dís de los Muertos. Puppets and masks, usually as skeletons named calavera who is the skull or skeleton that represents the dead, playfully mimicking the living on the Day of the Dead, are very popular. In addition to the fun and festivities, the holiday is an opportunity to remember the deceased. Family members who have died are believed to return to their gravesites, and "come back home- to enjoy flowers such as, cempasuchil, nube, and mano de lein which are flowers used to decorate the alter of the dead family members, to guide them back home; and also food. The sugar skulls and toys for the children, teach them about death in an early stage in their lives, in a positive way.
El Dí de Los Muertos originated in Mexico, before the Spanish conquest. The concept was passed to other cultures such as the Toltecs, Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec and Aztecs. Following the Spanish conquest of Mexico during the 16th century, there was a strong effort, of the Spanish, to convert the Mexican population to Catholicism. There was a good deal of hesitation on the part of the native Mexican people, which resulted in a blending of old customs with the new religion. All Saints' Day and Halloween roughly came together with the already existing "Dí de Los Muertos- resulting in the present day event that draws from both. Although the skeleton is a strong symbol for both Halloween and los Dís de Los Muertos, the meaning is very different. For Dís de Los Muertos the skeleton represents the dead, playfully mimicking, the living; and is not a grim symbol at all.
Preparations begin weeks in advance when statues, candies, breads and other items, to please the dead, are sold in markets.
