Día de los Muertos 2025: dates, meaning, major parades, and how to honor the day with respect

Día de los Muertos 2025 unfolds across Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2, with many communities beginning vigils the evening of Friday, October 31. The two-day observance bridges family remembrance and public celebration: November 1 is often dedicated to children and saints (frequently called Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos), while November 2 centers on adults remembered on Día de los Muertos/All Souls’ Day. Though rooted in Mexico’s Indigenous and Catholic traditions, the holiday now spans cities across the Americas and beyond.

What happens during Día de los Muertos

At the heart of the celebration is the ofrenda—a home or community altar layered with photos of the departed, cempasúchil (marigolds), candles, salt, water, copal incense, papel picado, and the favorite foods and belongings of loved ones. Families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, laying marigold petals as pathways that symbolically guide spirits back home. Typical foods include pan de muerto (anise-scented bread topped with bone-shaped dough), candied pumpkin, tamales, and sugar skulls. The tone is festive rather than morbid: music, poetry, laughter, and storytelling keep memory alive.

Big-city spectacles and 2025 highlights

• Mexico City’s grand parade: The capital’s massive processional—Catrinas in towering hats, monumental alebrije floats, marching bands, and dance troupes—lands on the weekend of the holiday. This year’s public guidance points to a parade staged the weekend of Nov. 1–2 along Paseo de la Reforma and into the Centro; final route maps and start times post closer to the day. Surrounding events include ofrenda installations in museums and plazas through early November.

• Oaxaca: Markets brim with cempasúchil and cresta de gallo blooms; neighborhoods host comparsas (street parades) that weave late into the night, and cemeteries glow with candles as families keep vigil.

• Michoacán (Janitzio, Pátzcuaro): Island cemeteries and lakeside communities hold intimate, all-night remembrances steeped in Purépecha tradition—quiet, beautiful, and capacity-limited.

• U.S. cities: From Los Angeles and San Antonio to Chicago and New York, 2025 calendars feature public ofrendas, Catrina processions, and arts festivals across the last weekend of October and the first days of November.

Schedule note: Municipalities publish final times and street closures in the week leading up to the holiday; weather and crowd control can shift start times. Plan buffers around high-profile parades.

Symbols you’ll see—and what they mean

• Cempasúchil (marigold): The golden-orange “flower of the dead.” Its scent and color are said to help guide spirits.

• Papel picado: Cut-paper banners that flutter above altars, representing the presence of wind and the fragility of life.

• Candles, water, salt: Light to show the way; water for the soul’s long journey; salt for purification.

• Calaveras & La Catrina: Skulls and the elegant skeletal lady—once satirical, now a symbol of dignity in the face of death.

• Pan de muerto: Shared among the living after offerings are made; it’s a sweet reminder of cyclical return.

Travel tips for Día de los Muertos 2025

• Book early. Major hubs sell out weeks in advance; smaller towns cap visitors for safety.

• Arrive car-free for parades. Street closures are extensive; use metro or official shuttles where available.

• Mind the midnight chill. Night vigils get cool even after warm days—layers and a portable seat help.

• Cash and small notes. Markets, flowers, and street food move faster with cash; ATMs can run dry in festival zones.

• Photography with consent. Always ask before aiming a lens at private ofrendas or mourners; some spaces prohibit flash or photos entirely.

How to build your own ofrenda (at home or office)

1. Choose a safe, quiet spot. A small table or shelf works.

2. Anchor with a photo of the person (or people) you’re honoring.

3. Add four elements: candles (fire), papel picado (air), favorite foods (earth), and a glass of water (water).

4. Cempasúchil or seasonal flowers, plus personal mementos—letters, recipes, a hat, a book.

5. Optional: copal incense, sugar skulls, pan de muerto, and a marigold petal path leading to the altar.

6. Share a story. Speak their name and tell a favorite memory—this is the living core of the tradition.

Etiquette: celebrating with care

• It’s not “Mexican Halloween.” Costumes are common at parades, but the purpose is remembrance.

• Honor spaces of mourning. Cemeteries and community altars are not sets; keep voices low, step lightly, and follow posted rules.

• Support local artisans. Buy flowers, bread, and crafts from neighborhood vendors; it sustains the tradition.

• Dress the part thoughtfully. If painting a Catrina face, pair it with knowledge of the symbol and avoid caricature.

Key dates at a glance (2025)

• Fri, Oct 31: Evening vigils and community events begin.

• Sat, Nov 1 — Día de los Inocentes/All Saints’ Day: Ofrendas emphasize children; many parades and comparsas run.

• Sun, Nov 2 — Día de los Muertos/All Souls’ Day: Main cemetery remembrances and large-city parades; installations continue into early week.

Día de los Muertos 2025 is a living bridge—part memorial, part festival—where food, flowers, music, and memory call loved ones home. Whether you travel to a marquee parade or light a single candle on a small altar, the spirit is the same: say their names, tell their stories, and make space for joy alongside grief.