Guatemala–
The Day of the Dead is a celebration that takes place every year on the 1st of November. It might sound a bit weird but the main idea behind it is actually really sweet. It is a day when Guatemalans remember their dead loved ones and celebrate that they were able to meet them or to be part of their family. It is believed that the souls of all of the people that have passed away return to Earth to check up on their families during this day.
This one is perhaps the most popular among locals, To visit the cemeteries. Some stick to putting flowers on the mausoleums and saying a prayer for the soul of their loved ones. But there are families that take it to the next level. They pack up all of their food, get their best clothes on and head on over to the cemetery to spend the whole day and night “visiting” those who have left.
Mexico-
Day of the Dead (known as Día de Muertos in Spanish) is celebrated in Mexico between October 31st and November 2nd. On this holiday, Mexicans remember and honor their deceased loved ones. It’s not a gloomy or morbid occasion, rather it is a festive and colorful holiday celebrating the lives of those who have passed on. Mexicans visit cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend time there, in the presence of their deceased friends and family members. They also make elaborately decorated altars (called ofrendas) in their homes to welcome the spirits.
Because of its importance as a defining aspect of Mexican culture and the unique aspects of the celebration which have been passed down through generations, Mexico’s indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead was recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2008.
Ecuador-
In Ecuador, the Day of the Dead or “Dia de los Difuntos” is celebrated on November 2nd. It is one of the most popular holidays in Ecuador. Since it falls one day before the Independence of Cuenca (both days are bank holidays), the two days make for a nice long vacation during which many people travel.
Many of the traditions associated with the Day of the Dead go back to before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. The native people had their own burial rites and ways of remembering their ancestors. These customs were adopted by the Catholic church in an attempt to bring these indigenous people to salvation.The Catholic calendar designates November 2nd as All Souls Day, when prayers are offered for souls that are in purgatory.
Backpacking In Latin America 
This was a very interesting post to read! I always thought that Mexico was the only one that had a Day of the Dead, but I guess Guatemala and Ecuador do too! I appreciate how you talked about each country’s perspective when it comes to their own version of “Day of the Dead” so it was easier to differentiate between them. I learned a lot from reading this post, thank you!
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this is a cool post i like how you expressed the similarities and differences between each country’s celebration of the dead
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I’ve seen parades and celebrations of “El dia de los muertos” in the United States before and from those alone I’m already entranced by the attractions and the traditions within this holiday. This makes me wonder how stunning the celebrations for the Day of the Dead are in Latin America. Hopefully soon I’ll go and see for myself.
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Your post is very informative, UNESCO, and as people have commented before it is nice how you compare these cultures. I also believed that this was a holiday isolated to Mexico. I think you brought an excellent point of colonialism. That is, how these were traditions that existed prior to the plundering of the Americas, and how it was used in the colonial project to assimilate indigenous peoples. That being said, I would have liked a bit more time dedicated to the individual three countries, I felt that you lacked a few more interesting facts about them, besides that I didn’t like the red font, I find read hard to read against the bluish-gray background.
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