Days of the Dead
Mexico Pictures

Click top or bottom images to see Merida, Monte Alban ancient site, Oaxaca or visit Chichen Itza

Oaxaca is a superb location in which to see the illuminating...

Day[s] of the Dead festival, with its sugar skulls [great cheap souvenirs!], skeletons hanging around,

... beautifully decorated personal shrines scattered around the city,...

...varied artistic representations such as sand sidewalk graphics, but most interesting of all...

...are the all night cemetery parties, where families play music, sing to, meet and greet...

...departed family members who come back to check how things are going back on planet Oaxaca.

And yes, you should ask permission before taking photos, and certainly if using a flash.

Days of the Dead [Dias de los Muertos] is perhaps Mexico's most illuminating festival, celebrating death and departed relatives with enormous gusto, colour and fearless respect. It runs from Oct 31 - to Nov 2, unofficially combining Halloween with All Saints Day [Nov 1] and All Souls Day [Nov 2].
In key towns, such as Oaxaca, Mixquic [south of Mexico City] and Janitzio island, Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán [west of Mexico City], death oriented products such as sugar skulls, bread bones, dancing skeletons and all manner of creepy costumes hit the streets a few days before the event.
During the Day of the Dead festivals - both days and nights - cheerful strolling musicians, spooky costumed kids and sand artists encourage donations while homes and churches display altars artistically loaded with fruit, flowers, candles and favourite foods of the visiting souls. Nightfall sees family groups heading for cemeteries with guitars and picnic hampers for a meet 'n' greet 'n' party with the dead, a refreshing attitude to an irresistible event that most westerners avoid even contemplating, let alone celebrating.