Explaining the Food Traditions of Día de los Muertos, a.k.a. Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead has nothing to do with Halloween.

Día de los Muertos is celebrated by Mexican families who prepare for the return of their loved ones. It also wouldn’t exist without the ofrenda, or the offering.

Ofrendas are a collection of things placed on an altar for families to remember loved ones who have passed away. And food plays a huge role in helping pay respect to loved ones. A lot of traditional food and drink on Día de los Muertos comes from a blend of Spanish and Indigenous beliefs and practices.

A common food item is pan de muerto or bread of the dead. It’s a sweet and eggy bread shaped into people, animals, bones, and skulls. The sweet smell of the bread is said to help the dead find their families. Other food on the ofrenda can include mole, fruit, and sweets.

Drinks are also put out, including pulque, a sweet fermented beverage made from agave sap.

There are also fancy skulls decorated with colorful icing called calaveras de azucar or sugar skulls. Even though they’re edible, they aren’t really made to be eaten. They are just a decoration.

Water is also given to quench the spirits thirst after their long journey from the afterlife.