A foto collage by Roberto Chile on November 1, 2026 from Mexico City
Bright orange marigolds, lit candles, and faces painted like the elegant skulls known as catrinas fill the streets every year during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.
The festivities begin in October and continue through November 1 and 2, when it is believed that the souls of deceased loved ones temporarily return to Earth to reunite with their families.
No one knows when the first commemoration took place, but it has its roots in beliefs linked to agriculture in pre-Hispanic Mexico. Catholic traditions were incorporated into the celebration after the Spanish conquest in 1521.
Today, the celebrations are characterized bymassive parades that wind through Mexico City’s main avenue. The streets, shops, and markets are covered with orange cempasúchil flowers, which are believed to illuminate the path of the dead back to Earth with their vivid colors. Traditional pan de muerto fills the display cases of bakeries.
Families decorate altars for their loved ones in their homes and place sweets, food, and mezcal as offerings alongside photos of their relatives.
On the night of November 1, families gather at cemeteries across the country to reconnect with their deceased loved ones, just as their ancestors have done for centuries.
all fotos: Roberto Chile
Roberto Chile is a world renowned Cuban photographer. His professional career as a documentary filmmaker has been closely linked to the political and personal life of Cuban Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro.
Source: Cubadebate