What happens in the cemetery on Día de Muertos in Oaxaca?

Families go to the cemetery at night: children carry candles and sing, there is music, and people eat and talk by the graves. In Oaxaca the festival lasts two days, 1 November for the children who died, los angelitos, and 2 November for the adults; the days and groups differ by community.

The night in the cemetery

what
Families go to the cemetery at night. Children carry candles and sing; there is music, and people eat and talk by the graves.
when
In Oaxaca the festival lasts two days: the first of November for the children who died, los angelitos, and the second for the adults. UNESCO places the festivities between late October and early November.
where
At home, around the altar, and in the cemetery. The piece is set in Oaxaca.
who
Families, and in UNESCO's listing the indigenous communities of Mexico in particular.
why
The dead come back for a visit. The mood is a welcome more than a mourning: families remember their dead with food, music and stories.
  • In Oaxaca the festival lasts two days: 1 November for the children and 2 November for the adults.
  • At night the family goes to the cemetery; children carry candles and sing, there is music, and people eat and talk.
  • The dead are grouped by cause of death, age, sex and sometimes profession, and each group has its own day of worship; the groups and days differ by community.
Por la noche, la familia va al cementerio.

At night, the family goes to the cemetery.

El primero de noviembre es para los niños y el dos para los adultos.

The first of November is for the children and the second for the adults.

More about Día de Muertos

Sources

  1. El Día de Muertos — The Day of the Dead
  2. Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage