Even though the Day of the Dead has become a commercialized holiday, making it open to appropriation, the rituals celebrating ancestral deaths date back for thousands of years in the Aztec traditions.

I love how this holiday can be celebrated publicly, connecting the Mexican culture as a whole, but also privately within each family. You’ll find ofrendas (altars) inside the home with photos of the family that has passed with their favorite foods, toys, or vices. It’s about keeping their memories alive and connecting us deeper to our family tree.