{"id":15774,"date":"2016-10-17T10:08:22","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T15:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?p=15774"},"modified":"2025-09-24T15:42:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T20:42:09","slug":"day-of-the-dead-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Throw an Authentic Day of the Dead Party"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"last-updated entry-meta\">Last updated on September 24, 2025<\/p><br>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you can throw an authentic Day of the Dead party, you may want to know a little bit about this beautiful Mexican holiday. We&#8217;ll give you a brief history lesson and then get into the details of throwing a truly authentic celebration!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-day-of-the-dead\">What is the Day of the Dead?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El D\u00eda de Los Muertos, or &#8220;The Day of the Dead,&#8221; is celebrated on November 1. It originated as a Mexican holiday but is also celebrated throughout other countries in Latin America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the name sounds a bit spooky, don&#8217;t confuse it with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/easy-halloween-party-ideas\/\">Halloween party<\/a>. It&#8217;s actually a day of spirited festivities that honor family and friends who have passed on. Rather than being sad about lost loved ones, they see it as a day to celebrate with festivals and parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Celebrators truly believe that the dead would be insulted by their mourning or sadness, so the&nbsp;living partake in food, drink, and activities that the deceased enjoyed in life. Filled with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/Music-Groups\/Mariachi-Band\">mariachi music<\/a>, singing, and dancing, a D\u00eda de los Muertos party is a way to honor death as a natural part of life rather than spending it in sadness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-elements-of-a-day-of-the-dead-party\">Elements of a Day of the Dead party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From sugar skulls to marigolds to altars, there are several symbols and traditions you may want to include in your party if you want it to be an authentic Day of the Dead celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-skulls-and-skeletons\">Skulls and skeletons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The iconic skull, or <em>Calaveras<\/em>, is a staple at an authentic celebration. Skeletons, or <em>calacas<\/em>, are another element found throughout the&nbsp;decor, masks, and candy. The traditional sugar skulls originated years ago because of the abundance of sugar crops in Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are given as gifts to the living or left on altars for family members who have passed. Though the name is deceiving, these types of sugar skulls are not made to be eaten but rather an art piece. Skulls can also be made out of clay, and the artistic freedom is endless!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.art-is-fun.com\/how-to-decorate-sugar-skulls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">making sugar skulls<\/a> ahead of time and then offering a decorating station at your party! They make perfect party favors and double as Day of the Dead decorations. If you&#8217;re not feeling that crafty, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supercoloring.com\/coloring-pages\/sugar-skull\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">printable sugar skull coloring pages<\/a> are an easier alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-attachment-id=\"38647\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/maryam-sicard-7fkhffdhg04-unsplash\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1170%2C780&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sugar skulls\" class=\"wp-image-38647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maryam-sicard-7fKhFfDHg04-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Mexico, the tradition of wearing skull masks has gone on for decades. You can wear a mask if you&#8217;d like, or simply use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/21-halloween-face-paint-ideas\/\">face paint<\/a> to create a skull. If you don&#8217;t trust your own skills, book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/Variety\/Face-Painter\">local face painter<\/a> to help make it perfect!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also wear a colorful costume or bright clothing to represent the happy occasion. Either is a great way to express your&nbsp;festive side at your authentic Day of the Dead party!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-image-15791 size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"866\" data-attachment-id=\"15791\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/people-in-dia-de-los-muertos-masks-and-makeup\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_58305435_l-2015-e1476716569879.jpg?fit=1000%2C866&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,866\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Scott Griessel&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;TUCSON, AZ\/USA - NOVEMBER 09: Four unidentified people in masks at the All Souls Procession on November 09, 2014 in Tucson, AZ, USA.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1415552841&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright 2014 Scott Griessel \/ Creatista&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;19&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.016666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;People in Dia De Los Muertos Masks and Makeup&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"People in Dia De Los Muertos Masks and Makeup\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_58305435_l-2015-e1476716569879.jpg?fit=1024%2C887&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"15791\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_58305435_l-2015-e1476716569879.jpg?resize=1000%2C866&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Skull masks for Day of the Dead\" class=\"wp-image-15791\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"736\" data-attachment-id=\"26555\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/unknown-woman-at-the-15th-annual-day-the-dead-festival-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_57115193_l-2015-e1476716549805.jpg?fit=1000%2C736&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,736\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;2014 Betto Rodrigues&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D7100&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Los Angeles, CA - November 1, 2014: Unknown woman at the 15th annual Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Los Angeles, CA.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1414856374&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;2014 Betto Rodrigues&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;35&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00015625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Unknown woman at the 15th annual Day the Dead Festival&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Unknown woman at the 15th annual Day the Dead Festival\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles, CA &amp;#8211; November 1, 2014: Unknown woman at the 15th annual Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Los Angeles, CA.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_57115193_l-2015-e1476716549805.jpg?fit=1000%2C736&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"26555\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_57115193_l-2015-e1476716549805.jpg?resize=1000%2C736&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sugar skull face paint for Day of the Dead\" class=\"wp-image-26555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_57115193_l-2015-e1476716549805.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_57115193_l-2015-e1476716549805.jpg?resize=768%2C565&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc80 <strong>Add themed desserts:<\/strong> A Day of the Dead party is all about sweet treats and celebrating! Make these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetsugarbelle.com\/2011\/10\/el-dia-de-los-muertos-day-of-the-dead-cookies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sugar skull cookies<\/a> from Sweet Sugarbelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-marigolds\">Marigolds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marigolds are very important and should absolutely be included in your Day of the Dead party ideas. During the celebration, it is believed that the dead are visiting the living. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of this, families build brightly decorated altars in their homes, covered in paper flowers and fresh marigolds. According to Latin cultural beliefs, marigolds guide the spirits to the altar using their strong scent and bright colors! A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/Event-Services\/Event-Florist\">local florist<\/a> can help you source fresh flowers for your party if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you cannot find live marigolds for your table or altar, you can <a href=\"http:\/\/craftychica.com\/2015\/10\/paper-marigolds-diy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">make your own out of tis sue paper.<\/a> In fact, this is a tradition on its own, so you&#8217;ll be even more authentic this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" data-attachment-id=\"15797\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/marigolds\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/marigolds-e1476716514996.jpg?fit=1000%2C562&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,562\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SLT-A37&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1367429349&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"marigolds\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/marigolds-e1476716514996.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"15797\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/marigolds-e1476716514996.jpg?resize=1000%2C562&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Use marigolds to decorate for a Day of the Dead party\" class=\"wp-image-15797\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udf79 <strong>Offer festive drinks:<\/strong> Did you know marigolds are edible? This amazing drink, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.muybuenocookbook.com\/2012\/11\/dia-de-los-muertos-day-of-the-dead-celebration-and-marigold-muerte-drink-a-guest-post\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marigold Muerte<\/a>, infuses simple syrup with real marigolds and another Dia de Los Muertos staple \u2014 tequila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-altars-for-loved-ones\">Altars for Loved Ones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, no authentic Day of the Dead party would be complete without the reason for the celebration! And that&#8217;s remembering loved ones who have passed on. Families in Latin America build beautiful, elaborate altars dedicated to the memory of the deceased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The altars are filled with marigolds, candles, favorite food and drink, photos, and other memorabilia. Another interesting item is a full glass of water to help quench the spirits&#8217; thirst after the long journey from the afterlife. You can be creative with this, of course, but the main thing is to express your love and remembrance for those who have passed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1761\" data-attachment-id=\"15800\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/mexican-day-of-the-dead-altar-dia-de-muertos\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?fit=1328%2C1999&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1328,1999\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Traditional mexican Day of the dead altar with catrina, sugar skulls, cempasuchil flowes and candles&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 2013 Antonio G Cuesta, All rights reserved.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Mexican day of the dead altar (Dia de Muertos)&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Mexican day of the dead altar (Dia de Muertos)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"15800\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?resize=1170%2C1761&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Day of the Dead altar\" class=\"wp-image-15800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?w=1328&amp;ssl=1 1328w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?resize=259%2C390&amp;ssl=1 259w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?resize=768%2C1156&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Depositphotos_33380433_l-2015.jpg?resize=680%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-attachment-id=\"26556\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/traditional-mexican-altar-installation-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87850372_l-2015-e1476716634419.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,667\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;2015 Betto Rodrigues&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D7100&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Los Angeles - USA - October 24, 2015: Traditional Mexican altar installation durting the Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de Los Muertos ) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1445703136&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;2015 Betto Rodrigues&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Traditional Mexican altar installation.&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Traditional Mexican altar installation.\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles &amp;#8211; USA &amp;#8211; October 24, 2015: Traditional Mexican altar installation durting the Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de Los Muertos ) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87850372_l-2015-e1476716634419.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"26556\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87850372_l-2015-e1476716634419.jpg?resize=1000%2C667&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Day of the Dead altar\" class=\"wp-image-26556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87850372_l-2015-e1476716634419.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87850372_l-2015-e1476716634419.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-attachment-id=\"26557\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/traditional-mexican-altar-installation-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87849526_l-2015-e1476716618340.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,667\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;2015 Betto Rodrigues&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D7100&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Los Angeles - USA - October 24, 2015: Traditional Mexican altar installation durting the Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de Los Muertos ) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1445695944&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;2015 Betto Rodrigues&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;40&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Traditional Mexican altar installation.&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Traditional Mexican altar installation.\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles &amp;#8211; USA &amp;#8211; October 24, 2015: Traditional Mexican altar installation durting the Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de Los Muertos ) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87849526_l-2015-e1476716618340.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"26557\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87849526_l-2015-e1476716618340.jpg?resize=1000%2C667&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Day of the Dead altar\" class=\"wp-image-26557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87849526_l-2015-e1476716618340.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Depositphotos_87849526_l-2015-e1476716618340.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every altar needs some traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allrecipes.com\/recipe\/7224\/pan-de-muertos-mexican-bread-of-the-dead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pan de Muertos<\/a>, or Bread of the Dead. If you&#8217;d like, you can mold the bread into animal shapes or an angel to help personalize it for your loved ones. Pan de Muertos has an interesting blend of flavor with anise seed and an orange zest glaze. Break bread with your friends and family as you honor those who&#8217;ve passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-attachment-id=\"38648\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/getty-images-vqrnyj85e64-unsplash\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1170%2C780&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Pan de Muerto, Bread of the Dead, for Day of the Dead celebration\" class=\"wp-image-38648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/getty-images-vQRNYj85E64-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the day, a&nbsp;Day of the Dead party is just that, a celebration! Gather your loved ones, living and passed, and enjoy this joyous occasion of remembrance. \ud83e\udde1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/World-Music\/Spanish-Entertainment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"585\" data-attachment-id=\"42773\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/day-of-the-dead-party\/day-of-the-dead-party-cta\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Day-of-the-Dead-Party-CTA.png?fit=1200%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Day of the Dead Party CTA\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Day-of-the-Dead-Party-CTA.png?fit=1200%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Day-of-the-Dead-Party-CTA.png?resize=1170%2C585&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Book entertainment for a Day of the Dead Party\" class=\"wp-image-42773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Day-of-the-Dead-Party-CTA.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Day-of-the-Dead-Party-CTA.png?resize=768%2C384&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last updated on September 24, 2025 Before you can throw an authentic Day of the Dead party, you may want to know a little bit about this beautiful Mexican holiday. We&#8217;ll give you a brief history lesson and then get into the details of throwing a truly authentic celebration!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":26562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1447],"tags":[1390,1391,361,434,548,1513],"class_list":["post-15774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-party-ideas","tag-day-of-the-dead","tag-dia-de-los-muertes","tag-party","tag-party-decor","tag-party-decorations","tag-recipes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Throw an Authentic Day of the Dead Party | GigSalad<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Celebrate your loved ones who have passed with an authentic Day of the Dead party! 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Celebrated from mid-September through the beginning of October each year, people gather to honor German culture with food, drink, and merriment. Bring the fun of Munich to you by hosting your own Oktoberfest party at home with these party planning ideas. The origins\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: Heather Roonan \u2014 Updated: September 8, 2025","block_context":{"text":"Party Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/party-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Friends at Oktoberfest party","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/iStock-1345167431.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/iStock-1345167431.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/iStock-1345167431.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/iStock-1345167431.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/iStock-1345167431.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15774"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42774,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15774\/revisions\/42774"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}