Mexican Londoners explain what goes into 'solemn' Day of the Dead celebrations

Painted skulls, candelabras and orange marigolds are all used to decorate altars on the Day of the Dead.

The holiday, called Día de los Muertos, is widely celebrated across Latin America to honour the memory of loved ones who have passed away.

And no – the day is not a "Halloween for Mexicans" as it's commonly misinterpreted in North America.

"It's a celebration, but I wouldn't say it's a happy celebration," said Maria Laura Flores, a PhD student at Western University who moved to London six years ago from Mexico.

"It's a little bit solemn. It's sad, but at the same time it's hopeful. It's filled with love." It's about wanting to feel the presence of dead relatives, she said. 

Flores set up a stall at Western's Oct. 25 Día de los Muertos celebration, as a way to share her culture with others. Dozens of of students attended the event in their costumes, she said. 

Día de los Muertos lasts two days starting on Nov.1 each year. The first day is for honouring deceased children and the second day is for honouring adults. Although Dia de los Muertos is celebrated across Latin America and hispanic diasporas worldwide, the holiday is observed differently in every culture. 

In a traditional Mexican household, an ofrenda, or altar with seven steps, will be set up and decorated with pictures of deceased loved ones, skulls, candles, foods, drinks and marigold flowers.

"The celebration is not only visual, but there's a lot of smells," said Flores.

Marigold flowers, or cempasuchil, are essential because their strong aroma guides spirits on their journey from their burial place to their family home, she said. Families cook the favourite dishes of the dead relatives as a treat and leave water because the spirits are tired by the end of their journey.

Alba Devo Colis, assistant professor at Western University, said Dia de Muertos is celebrated in unique ways across Mexico too. While in cities it's common practice to set an ofrenda at home, remote villages tend to decorate the graves of the loved ones instead.

"You decorate the tomb of your family or friends, and you spend the whole night there eating, drinking, listening to music, singing, as a way to enjoy the meeting that you [are] having with your relative," said Colis.

Salt is also important because it signifies purity and protects souls from evil, according to Colis. She added that a special bread, pan de muerto, is baked for the holiday with bone decoration at the top made of the same dough. The bread is served as an offering to the spirits. 

While Día de los Muertos is for honouring those that have passed, Flores said it's equally important for people to reflect on their own life by keeping death in mind.

"You would like to remember your relatives and to learn from them, learn from their example. To realize that we are only here for a moment, and we should be living our life to our best — because it's short."