Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a remembrance and celebration of the lives of loved ones who have passed. While the actual holiday falls on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, there are many events leading up to it that encompass the holiday’s spirit.

The holiday started in the 16th century when Spaniards came to Mexico and blended their own beliefs and traditions with those of the Indigenous people. The festivities that are celebrated today combine the beliefs of the Aztecs and some from the Catholic Church.

In Aztec culture , people would host a festival dedicated to Mictecacihuatl, also known as “lady of the dead.” Aztecs believed Mictecacihuatl’s role was to guard the bones of those who had died and oversee the festivals of the dead.

The Catholic Church merged these celebrations with

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