Day of the Dead

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Day of the Dead Meaning, Culture & Decorations

Let death be your guide for a Halloween event inspired by the Dia de los Muertos Mexican holiday. This colorful commemoration of honored spirits, aka the Day of the Dead, is a whimsical celebration for the new life of the dead, every year from October 31st through November 2nd.

In contrast to the evil spirits of Halloween, the Day of the Dead is a time to honor and welcome the visiting souls of loved ones, ancestors, folk heroes and even pets. We've compiled some ideas to combine the joyous nature and macabre imagery of this festive occasion for a party setting welcoming of all Halloween beliefs.

Our approach to channel the spirits for a Day of the Dead theme party is divided into 3 parts:

The Meaning
The Culture
The Decorations

THE MEANING

To capture the essence of this unique holiday, it is helpful to appreciate the beliefs, understand the perspective, and embrace the attitude. Ironically, this refreshing view of death is thousands of years old.

Based upon the belief that death is a continuum of the cycle of life, dying is not an end, but a new beginning. The Day of the Dead is not only a remembrance, but also an eternal dialogue and connection between the world and afterlife.

Instead of reverence and denial, one lives alongside death as a part of life and faces their fear with acknowledgement and acceptance. In fact, it is believed that mourning and sadness is insulting to the dead.

Skeletons & skulls of the Day of the Dead represent the transition of life and death and remind us that we will all die, but are not scary or morbid. Actually, it is more common to depict skeletons in humorous situations and to mock death with names like "skinny", "bony", and "baldy".

From this perspective, the Day of the Dead is a colorful & jovial reunion of the whole family, living and dead, with graveyard celebrations and altars of commemoration full of life, happiness, food, and fun.

THE CULTURE

Integrate the origins of the Day of the Dead by incorporating the rich and colorful culture of Mexico into your party decorations. Intermix Mexican Fiesta decor, food, drink, and features to create an authentic background based on this holiday’s birthplace.

Look for these items and motifs in party decorations, invitations, food and drinks:

Serapes/Mexican blankets
Cactus
Sombreros
Maracas
Chili Peppers
Marionette Puppets
Pinatas
Mexican flags
Donkeys
Aztec Suns
Paper flowers
Margaritas
Mariachis
Geckos

THE DECORATIONS

Traditionally, the Day of the Dead is celebrated in cemeteries at the gravesites of loved ones and in the home with altars or ofrendas, which are offerings to honor the deceased.

Feature the symbolism and imagery associated with the Day of the Dead altars and graveyard festivities for your party theme decorations. Here are some suggestions:

Color signifies the vitality of life: Fill your party setting with bright & vibrant colors, including orange, pink, purple, turquoise, lime, yellow and red.
An arch marks the entrance to world of the dead, typically made with flowers
Monarch butterflies carry the spirits returning to visit
Include items to represent each of the 4 elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, & Water

EARTH: Flowers & Food

Orange & yellow marigolds aka Cempasuchil, are used prominently to help guide the spirits with their bright color & strong scent
Make paper flower marigolds, here’s how
Or, quick and easy napkin flowers, here’s how
Other flower options include crimson cockscomb, calla lily, lavender orchid, baby’s breath, hoary stock, gladiolus and chrysanthemums
Scatter flower petals along the front walk to guide your visitors
Hang tulle flower pom-poms
Make and hang flower balls, here’s how
Offer pan de muerto aka Bread of the Dead featuring bones & a tear drop on top, recipe here
Place bowls with fruit; oranges, apples, nisperos (loquat), bananas, tejocotes (hawthorn)
Arrange baskets of autumn harvest corn, pumpkins, & squashes

WIND

String Papel picado (perforated paper) banners
Hang paper lanterns and/or fans in varying colors, sizes & heights

FIRE

Use votive candles liberally to guide the spirits
Hang wine bottle candle holders
String strands of party lights
Set out religious saint candles

WATER

Provide water for the spirits after the long journey in a skull pitcher or cup
Print Day of the Dead water bottle labels

Display death, in a fun way

Create a festive graveyard scene for the party area or front walk
Make a mini tabletop graveyard on the bar
Flank the front door with tombstones and planters of marigolds
Make a grave with skeleton bones exposed
Make a coffin table top (here’s how) & set with a Day of the Dead graveyard picnic

Decorate with calaveras—decorative & artistic impressions of skulls & skeletons in humorous settings and traditional activities
Hang a skull wreath
Set up a skull rack aka tzompantii
Arrange calacas—masks & figurines of joyous calaveras in festive clothing, flowers & foliage
Feature La Catrina—the iconic Day of the Dead calaveras depicting a woman skeleton in an extravagantly plumed hat
Hang skeletons and bones from the ceiling
Set out skeleton yard "pink" flamingos

Use a skeleton for the food buffet

Make and/or set out calaveras de azucar (sugar skulls) as gifts for the spirits—elaborately decorated skulls made of sugar or clay, then create some variations:

Make sugar skulls with flower pots, here's how
Paint pumpkins as sugar skulls, here's how
Create sugar skull glow lanterns from mason jars, here's how
Convert gourds to sugar skulls, here's how
Put together a sugar skull garland, here's how
Add light with a sugar skull pumpkin candle, here's how

Set up one or more Day of the Dead ofrendas or altars, here’s how

Make an altar as a focal point
Create an altar backdrop for the bar or serving table
Arrange multiple 3 level mini altars throughout the party, e.g. bathroom, bar, mantel

Include more religious symbols, imagery, and scenes with:

Crosses & crucifixes
Images of saints, Christ & the Virgin Mary
Retablo shadow box dioramas

Additional items often provided for the visiting spirits include:

Copal—natural tree resin incense to find their way
Salt for purification
Xoloitzcuintli dog for guidance to the afterlife
Soap, hand towel and/or wash basin
Pillows & blankets for rest

Hang, mount, frame, & display photos & memorabilia of the dead

People, e.g. family, celebrities, & heroes
Animals, e.g. pets, bees, & endangered species
Groups, e.g. breast cancer, hurricane victims, & travel agents
Fads, places & things, e.g. disco, bookstores, & phone booths

Optionally, segment the party area to correlate with death and the afterlife

Front entrance: Graveyard, butterflies & entrance to the world of the dead
Food service area: Earth & living with memorabilia, photos, sugar skulls, food & drink
Party area: Purgatory or Mictlan (Aztec underworld) with skeletons, skulls, incense & candles
Bar area: Heaven with saints, crosses, and religious symbols

Food service & hors d'oeuvres

Make a skull from cauliflower, here's how
Pass coffin canapes, recipe here
Serve sugar skull marshmallows, here's how

Drink suggestions

Tamarita--margarita made with tamarinds
Atole--hot masa (corn flour) based drink with sugar, cinnamon & vanilla

Hibiscus tea--ruby red herbal tea aka agua de Jamaica

Make it a costume party

Provide some Day of the Dead background information with the invitation
Have guests dress as skeleton spirits of someone/thing dead they wish to remember

Do you have more ideas for hosting a Day of the Dead theme party? If so, please let us know about them, so we can include them here.