A woman dressed as La Catrina, an iconic figure of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration, in the San Francisco Lowrider Parade September 20, 2025.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which happens this weekend, is celebrated in communities across the U.S. The primarily Mexican holiday is rooted in the belief that the veil between the mortal and immortal worlds thins, allowing deceased spirits to cross over to the living world to be with loved ones.

The holiday takes place over three days. Official celebrations usually begin on Nov. 1 and end on Nov. 2 and preparations and vigils start on Oct. 31, depending on where the holiday is being celebrated. Nov. 1 is known as Día de los Angelitos, which honors the souls of deceased children, and Nov. 2 is Día de los Muertos.

As part of the holiday, which is rooted in indigenous culture, families will create a trail of marigold petals from their front doors to their altars to help guide spirits home.

Día de los Muertos inspired the Disney/Pixar film “Coco" and tells the story of a young Mexican boy who travels to the land of the dead to find his music idol while his ancestors attempt to cross into the living world. Those who celebrate the holiday paint their faces to resemble skeletons and hold parades to honor the deceased.

As the holiday approaches, here's a primer on key elements of Día de los Muertos.

What are the origins of Día de Los Muertos?

The holiday started 3,000 years ago as a ritual to honor the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.

Tradition states that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on Oct. 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours while the spirits of adults are able to cross over on Nov. 2 to be with their loved ones, according to History.com.

Indigenous traditions, including from the Aztecs and Nahua people in central Mexico, consider death as a constant part of life. After dying, a person was said to have traveled to the Land of the Dead, called Chicunamictlán. A person would need to spend several years scaling the land’s levels to reach Mictlán, considered to be the final resting place.

In traditional rituals, indigenous people offer departed spirits food and water to help them on their journey, which sparked the modern-day tradition of ofrendas, a special type of altar set up for the occasion.

How is the holiday celebrated?

Marigolds are one of the holiday’s most important symbols. Ofrendas and cemeteries are typically adorned with flowers, which are believed to guide the spirits back to the living world due to their vibrant colors and strong scent.

Altars are traditionally decorated with pictures of departed relatives, their favorite foods, drinks and remnants of their lives, such as favorite items or symbols of their profession.

People often dress up as skeletons on Day of the Dead to reflect on their own mortality and to treat death as a natural part of life.

Other important holiday symbols are calaveras de azúcar, sugar skulls, pan de muerto, papel picado and "La Calavera Catrina," a Mexican folk image created by the artist José Guadalupe Posada to mock the European style during the early 20th century. "La Calavera Catrina" is an image of a female skeleton dressed in the fashion of that time.

Mexican cities often host parades to celebrate the holiday, featuring mascots dressed as skeletons. In the United States, Day of the Dead parades are held in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Antonio and Fort Lauderdale, among other cities.

What do people eat on Day of the Dead?

Pan de muerto, a traditional sweet bread, decorated with dough shaped cross-bones, flavored with orange zest and topped with sugar, is often enjoyed on the holiday. Other foods and drinks often consumed include atole, a corn flour beverage, and dark chocolate.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, is here. Here's what to know.

Reporting by Michelle Del Rey , USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect