Despite its name, Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos isn’t about loss or sadness.

“It’s a celebration of life,” said Victoria Gonzalez, marketing and digital manager for Denver’s Latino and Cultural Arts Center.

Every fall, leaders at the Latino and Cultural Arts Center meld ancient and contemporary traditions to celebrate Day of the Dead.

Gonzalez also is making a documentary about the history of Day of the Dead celebrations in Colorado.

The art center’s seasonal celebration is called Ofrendas. Ofrendas are offerings placed on lovingly-designed altars, which include photos of loved ones, candles, flags and ancestors’ favorite foods.

How to celebrate Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos celebrations have roots both in indigenous Aztec and Mayan cultures and Catholicism. Unique traditions have emerged in Mexico, Guatemala and among Mexican-Americans in U.S. cities like Los Angeles and Denver.

“The relationships that Mexicans, Chicanos or Latinos have with the dead are very different,” Gonzalez said. “We don’t see death as an endpoint. It’s a journey. We invite our ancestors back into our homes to enjoy offerings that we set out on altars.”

Some people conflate Day of the Dead with Halloween or think it’s a scary holiday. Those perceptions are incomplete at best.

Day of the Dead is a lively, joyous occasion, marked by intricate altars in homes, dancing, parades in cities and celebrations at some graveyards. In Mexico, for instance, people celebrate Day of the Dead by decorating their loved ones’ graves with bright orange marigolds, which are believed to light the way for ancestors to return.

In Colorado, you can visit traditional bakeries, like Rosales Mexican Bakery in Denver, where you can taste pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, a sweet and savory concoction. Or, you can buy colorful, decorated sugar skulls.

“We’re honoring and remembering our ancestors,” Gonzalez said. “People have feasts and enjoy meals together and tell stories and remember their loved ones. That’s how we celebrate our dearly departed and keep their memory close.”

Our loved ones remain very much alive through our memories of them and the way we celebrate their lives. 

And, people can treasure those memories any time of the year. Gonzalez keeps an altar set up in her home all year long to remind herself to honor those who came before her.

Gonzalez is a fifth-generation Mexican American who grew up in Houston, but Day of the Dead celebrations have been lost in some Hispanic communities and families, while others never adopted the traditions.

“It wasn’t until we moved to Denver that I was exposed to Day of the Dead,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve learned to reconnect with that part of my heritage.”

The holiday really could be called Days of the Dead or Días de Los Muertos because it’s actually celebrated over two days: Nov. 1 and 2, and traditionally spans over months.

“Nov. 1 is dedicated to the children who have been lost,” Gonzalez said. “Then the second day is a  celebration for adults and everyone else.”

Some people without Hispanic roots are newly enthusiastic about celebrating Day of the Dead since the Disney animated film, “Coco,” popularized the holiday.

Gonzalez said the film isn’t entirely accurate. But, all people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds are welcome at Day of the Dead celebrations.

“The best way to learn about Day of the Dead is to go into the community and experience it first-hand. All people are welcome,” Gonzalez said. “Just be in the community and be open to learning about something outside of your comfort zone. Embrace it with love and find new ways to come together and build a healthier city and nation.”

Where to celebrate Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos in Colorado:

Viva’s Festival and Día de los Muertos Parade, Santa Fe Drive and Denver’s Civic Center Park, Denver

Celebrate Day of the Dead on First Friday, Nov. 1, in Denver with the Museo de Las Americas

The Museo will host an array of activities, performance and vendors. This event is free and open to the public from 5 to 9 p.m. Where? Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. The museum is located at 861 Santa Fe Drive in Denver and businesses, residents and art galleries in the district join in the Day of the Dead festivities.

Día de los Muertos at Denver Art Society

Visit the Denver Art Society from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 for Dia de Los Muertos, located at 734  Santa Fe Drive, Denver.

Enjoy all of the events sponsored by Denver’s Latino and Cultural Arts Center and their partners:

Denver’s Latino and Cultural Arts Center is hosting several events to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Learn about the events and sign up.

Pueblo’s Día de los Muertos Celebration

The first-ever Día de los Muertos Costume Parade, hosted by the Latino Chamber of Commerce in Pueblo, will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 2. Registration for the parade is $10, and the deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 28. Enjoy the festivities and the Pueblo Riverwalk.

Fort Collins’ Día de los Muertos Community Celebration

On Saturday, Nov. 2, Old Town Square will be filled with vibrant colors, lively music, youth crafts, face painting, traditional dances and more throughout the day. The event starts at 10 a.m., and the closing event starts at 5:30 p.m.

Longmont hosts Day of the Dead and Día de los Muertos 

Check out all of Longmont’s Día de los Muertos events including exhibitions, family celebrations and a Noche de Museo.

Longmont’s Day of the Dead family celebration takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 4th Avenue and Main Street. This free street festival includes music and dance performances, art and craft activities, cultural education and food. There are also downtown business altars and the Gigantes Procession. Park downtown or at the Longmont Museum and take a free shuttle between locations.

Other events include free admission to the Día de Muertos exhibition at the Longmont Museum from Oct. 12 to Nov. 5. On Nov. 2, there is an evening of live performances in celebration of Día de Muertos featuring iZCALLi, Aztec dancers Grupo Azteca Tlahuitzcalli, and more, also at the museum. Tickets are needed.

Botanic Gardens Día de los Muertos Celebration

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at a Jefferson County Public Library

Celebrate the Day of the Dead with stories, songs, snacks and crafts.