Welcome to What Unites Us, a series that looks at celebrations, rituals, and customs around the world through the lens of shared experience. The ways we commemorate annual events—from harvests to birthdays and everything in between—may look different across cultures, but they’re a reminder of our shared humanity.

Commemorating the dead holds a significant place in every culture. Traditions pay homage to those who have passed and remind us how we connect with them and one another. While some rituals, like lighting candles and reflecting, are somber, others are celebrations of life with big gatherings and decorations. These traditions provide a glimpse into the values and beliefs of cultures around the world. This blog will delve into the common and diverse ways cultures honor their dead. 

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is probably best known as a celebration in Mexico, but it’s also celebrated worldwide, from Latin and Central America to Europe and India. Originating 3,000 years ago with the Aztecs and other Nahua communities in what is now central Mexico, the traditions honor deceased souls. 

During this celebration, it’s believed that the souls of the deceased awaken and return to the living world, with children remembered on November 1 and adults on November 2. The living celebrate the return by preparing the dead’s favorite foods and gathering other offerings such as photographs, candles, flowers, and personal mementos to leave at the gravesite or ofrendas (altars) in homes or public spaces like parks. In addition, people may wear skull masks, and festivals or processions are commonly held. 

Pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, is a traditional Mexican sweet bread flavored with citrus fruit, anise seeds, or cinnamon. Hot chocolate or coffee mixed with cinnamon is often enjoyed with the bread. 

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

November 1 is All Saints’ Day, a day of honoring saints and martyrs of the church who have ascended to heaven. All Saints’ Day is celebrated mostly by Catholics and other Christians around the world. All Souls’ Day on November 2 is a day to remember those who are no longer living. For Catholics, All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation, meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass. Customs vary by culture and religion and are celebrated by many in Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Austria, Croatia, and other countries. For example, in the Philippines, the day is a public holiday. Many Filipinos travel to their hometowns, visit cemeteries, and bring candles or flowers to the gravestones. 

Día de Todos Los Santos is a religious Spanish holiday observed on November 1. Unlike other countries, this day is a more somber occasion in Spain. Spaniards return to their hometowns to pay respects at cemeteries, adorning graves with ornate flower displays and various offerings, where they may spend hours remembering the dead. The Eucharist, or Mass, is often performed in cemeteries throughout the day. Special traditional food and sweets are enjoyed, including huesos de santo, or saint’s bones—a sweet treat made of marzipan with a sticky center that resembles a bone. Other traditional foods include sweet almond cakes called pannellets or roasted chestnuts.

Qingming Festival

The Qingming Festival, known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, means Pure Brightness Festival and occurs on the fifteenth day after the spring equinox in early April. This Chinese holiday honors family ancestors and also marks the beginning of spring. Rooted in Confucianism, the tradition has been celebrated for over 2,500 years. Qingming is a time to bring offerings such as food and drink, burn incense and paper money, and sweep and decorate gravesites. After the gravesite visit, participants may enjoy the spring weather by flying kites, having picnics, or releasing lanterns at night. Qingtuan, a dumpling made of glutinous rice with Chinese mugwort or barley grass, is a common dish during this festival.

Fiesta de las Ñatitas

The Fiesta de las Ñatitas, held a week later than most events on November 8, is a celebration honoring skulls known as ñatitas, or “the little pug-nosed ones,” in Bolivia. These skulls, whether of known relatives or found in cemeteries and medical schools, are adorned with items like flowers, hats, glasses, and cotton balls in the eye sockets. On this occasion, around 10,000 people carry their ñatitas to Cementerio General to give thanks for a year’s worth of friendship and service. The skulls usually reside in homes and are cared for by those in the house, as the dead are thought to have the ability to offer services to those who are still living.

Gai Jatra

Gai Jatra is a traditional Hindu festival in Nepal, mainly in the Kathmandu Valley, to remember those who died in the last year. In Nepali, “Gai” means cow, and “Jatra” means a festival or carnival. Nepalis celebrate this day with processions often featuring a cow, regarded as a sacred symbol of wealth and strength. People dress in vibrant and diverse costumes, such as cows and mythical figures. The costumes bring some humor to the festival, and along with dancing and singing, provide a bit of relief for those dealing with loss. Gai Jatra is a community event that binds those in mourning.

Final Thoughts

In honoring the dead, we pay tribute to those who have passed. Connections form and strengthen as we experience shared rituals of commemoration. We can find solace and peace in remembering and honoring our loved ones and draw strength from their legacies. In honoring the dead, we celebrate the profound connections and enduring power of love.