Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Day of the Dead - statistics & facts
There is no escaping death. Because of that, from the night of October 1st until the early hours of the 2nd, it is tradition around Mexico to scatter ³¦±ð³¾±è²¹³úú³¦³ó¾±³Ù±ô (tagetes erecta) leaves around altars, houses, and gravestones to help guide the deceased from the land of the living to the ²Ñ¾±³¦³Ù±ôá²Ô (Land of the dead). Even though the different beliefs, rites, and traditions vary between diverse cultures and civilizations, the main idea remains as a remembrance of the loved ones that are no longer among us. Today, the Day of the Dead, or DÃa de Muertos, ranks among the most well-known festivities in Mexico, being proclaimed in 2008 Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
