The Day of the Dead, or in Spanish, Día de los Muertos, is one of the most important holidays in Mexico. The traditions have been around for more than 3,000 years and have changed and adapted just like the people who celebrate them. The holiday is connected with the Catholic religion, but the celebrations surrounding reach communities and families outside of the religion as well. People all over the country, and even Mexicans who have moved to different countries, celebrate the special holiday. Depending on where you are in the country, the traditions can differ.
Starting in early October, the first signs of the Day of the Dead arrived in Tlaxcala. It started with a typical sweet bread called pan de muerto, or bread of the dead. During this time of year, many families bake this bread from scratch and sometimes they add different fruits or other flavors like chocolate, sugar or nuts. The other obvious sign of the Day of the Dead were decorations all over town. One of the main traditions of this holiday is to make an altar or offering, called an ofrenda in Spanish, to celebrate the lives of family members or close friends who have passed away.
