Newswise — The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a holiday to commemorate and honor the lives of dead loved ones, with traditions that include feasts, music, vigils and creating temporary ofrendas or altars, such as this one. The ofrenda is composed of mementos, photographs and objects of loved ones who have died and is intended to honor and remember their lives.
It is celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 in Mexico and Central America, and it has become increasingly popular among Latinos in the U.S.
Learn more about the Day of the Dead traditions through the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum and check out Amalia Mesa-Bains’ “An Ofrenda for Dolores del Rio,” part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s exhibition, “Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art,” traveling across the country through 2017.
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