Day of the Dead: The History of a Celebration

by Artes del Mexico magazine

A stunning bilingual, illustrated, and photographic account of a celebrated Mexican tradition The lively Mexican holiday of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) brings together sorrow and laughter, drawing from indigenous traditions of celebrating one’s ancestors and loved ones who have been lost. It’s a day of serenity, family, and exuberant creativity, where sugar and skulls can exist side by side. In this bilingual book, beloved Mexican art and culture magazine Artes de México creates a stunning written, illustrated, and photographic account that takes readers through the tradition’s origins, its history and evolution, and the many ways it is celebrated today. Alongside the visually stunning displays of altars, cemeteries, costumes, and festivities, a group of renowned Mexican writers has contributed essays that cover topics including the holiday’s rural and urban distinctions, occult ancestry, and Indigenous rituals. Their words are imbued with spectacular personal significance—and impressive academic rigor—as they recount local legends, family traditions, and tales of life, death, and wandering souls.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays in this collection were interesting but some were a little too academic for me. I appreciated that the collection was presented both in English and in Spanish, and that lots of images were included.