our story
"Día de Muertos in the City": A Celebration of Tradition and Love
"Día de Muertos in the City" is a deeply personal short documentary that honors the beauty of the Mexican people through one of their oldest and most sacred traditions—a 3,000-year-old ritual of remembrance known as Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Filmed in New York City, the story unfolds through the eyes of Mexican artists from the Harlem-based organization MANO A MANO: MEXICAN CULTURE WITHOUT BORDERS and other community members who uphold the true spirit of the holiday: a spiritual act of love, memory, and connection.
The Challenge of Cultural Distortion
As Día de Muertos continues to gain visibility in the U.S., it faces growing distortion. Non-Latino-owned corporations make billions each year using Día de Muertos imagery—without donating to or supporting the Mexican artisans and families who keep it alive. What was once sacred is being turned into a seasonal trend, reshaped for profit.
Misconceptions and Reality
The film also explores how other Latino communities perceive the holiday. Some know it only through pop culture versions like Disney’s Coco. Others falsely associate it with voodoo or Santería. Neither is true. Día de Muertos is not about fear, fantasy, or borrowed beliefs. It is about respect for the ancestors. Period. It is an invitation to celebrate your continued love for those who crossed—including pets. It’s a way to connect the present to the past, grounded in truth, spirit, and memory.
A Call to Action
This documentary is not just a celebration. It’s a call to protect what is sacred. Anyone can honor their loved ones through this tradition—but they must understand its roots. This is a 3,000+ year-old legacy, not a brand. Through ofrendas, storytelling, and ceremony, the film holds space for what matters most: memory, truth, and love that cannot be bought or sold.
Is the Name of the Holiday Día de los Muertos or Día de Muertos?
In Mexico, the celebration is traditionally called Día de Muertos. In the U.S. and other English-speaking countries, it’s often referred to as Día de los Muertos, a back-translation of “Day of the Dead” into Spanish. We proudly use the traditional name Día de Muertos to reflect our commitment to honoring and preserving its authentic cultural roots.
When is Día de Muertos Celebrated?
In Mexico, preparations begin well before the holiday. Farmers plant flowers. Artisans create sugar skulls, papel picado, and other decorations. While many rural communities begin celebrating on October 28, the most recognized days are November 1 (for children) and November 2 (for adults). In urban areas and large cities, the focus tends to be on these final two days.
Do People Dress Up or Wear Skull Makeup for Día de Muertos?
Traditionally, no. Día de Muertos is not a costume holiday. It's a time for family, remembrance, and ceremony. In recent years, face painting, skull makeup, and costumes have become popular—mainly due to media, fashion, and films—but they are not part of the original or rural observance. The true spirit of the holiday lives in the altars, prayers, food, music, and love shared across generations.
What Are Alebrijes, and Do They Have Anything to Do with Día de Muertos?
Alebrijes are brightly colored sculptures of fantastical creatures, created by artist Pedro Linares in the 1930s in Mexico City. They are beautiful expressions of Mexican folk art—but they have no historical or spiritual connection to Día de Muertos. Their link to the holiday was created for the Disney/Pixar film Coco. In real tradition, alebrijes are not spirit animals and are not part of Day of the Dead altars or rituals.
Is Día de Muertos Celebrated with Parades?
Not traditionally. Parades were not part of the original celebration. The now-famous parade in Mexico City began in 2016, inspired by the James Bond film Spectre. Before that, such events were rare or nonexistent. Today, more cities host parades, but it’s important to know they are a recent invention, not part of the holiday's original meaning. They can create false impressions for newcomers unfamiliar with the tradition.
Who is La Catrina, and What Does She Represent?
Originally called La Calavera Garbancera, La Catrina is a satirical skeleton figure created by artist José Guadalupe Posada around 1910–1912. She wore a fancy European-style hat to critique Mexican women who rejected Indigenous roots in favor of colonial fashion. Diego Rivera later made her famous by including her in his mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park.
Today, La Catrina is often used in artwork and celebrations, especially in cities. But her role in Día de Muertos is recent. In rural and traditional ceremonies, her presence is minimal or nonexistent. The idea she has always been central to the holiday is simply not true.
How Do We Differentiate Día de Muertos from Halloween?
They are completely different. Día de Muertos is about welcoming the spirits of loved ones with joy, food, candles, and altars. Halloween, rooted in Celtic traditions like Samhain, was about protecting the living from the dead—costumes and bonfires were used to ward off spirits.
While both occur in the fall, one is about remembrance, the other about fear. Día de Muertos is not spooky. It’s spiritual. It’s not about scaring people. It’s about loving them back to the table.
What Does This Film Say About All of This?
Día de Muertos in the City is not just a documentary—it’s a defense. A defense of truth, beauty, and the people who created a 3,000+ year tradition of honoring the dead. This film shows how commercialization and misunderstanding—by corporations and sometimes even within Latino communities—are reshaping something sacred into something it never was.
Some believe Día de Muertos is linked to voodoo or Santería. Others only know it through Coco. Neither view reflects reality. This is not fantasy, fear, or folklore. This is respect. Period.
It is for anyone who wants to honor their loved ones—but you must understand the roots. That’s the difference. This film calls people in—not out. It invites viewers to witness the real meaning of the tradition: memory, love, connection—and the right to own your story.
Visit Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders for more information about Día de Muertos: