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On the first of November we remember our dead children and on the second of November we remember our dead adults. Both days are referred to as El Día de los Muertos. These are national holidays. Many of us go to the gravesites of our family and lay out food and drink for them. The subject has generated books, so don't expect a complete answer here.

Janitzio, an island in the Lago Chapala, is generally regarded as the center of modern indigenous celebration. There is even a piece of music that was written about the event. Generally, though, you will find many of us Mexicans in the graveyards of our cities holding picnics on the second of November.

Dia de los muertos, day of the dead is a celebration for those who have passed.It starts around the third week in October when family's build alters in their house with the deceased favorite food, fruit, drink usually hot chocolate, sweets and especially bread. Bread is the one of the most important. The alters are decorated with skulls made of candy and inscribed with the names of the deceased. Also orange flowers adorn these alters as this color represents the color of the dead. And always candles are lit to show the way. Families believe the dead will come back to visit, eat, drink and spend time with them. The official day is the 2nd day of November. The 1st of November is for children who have passed on as they need to come first followed by the adults. The skeleton masks you see so often are called La Calavera de la Catrina ("calavera of the female dandy") created by José Guadalupe Posada to represent an upper class female that all of those who die will become a skeleton no matter what your class. The days leading up the the 2nd, family's enter the cemeteries to clean and adorn the markers with orange flowers. Then at midnight on the first they enter the cemetery and spend the day there. Festivals are different in every part of Mexico and are not universal. Oaxaca, Mexico is one of the most traditional states in Mexico to observe this day.

Last night we attended 3 private family parties celebrating with them. For they all believe the dead walk among us especially this day.

It has absolutely nothing what so ever to do with Halloween at all!!

Day of the Dead - Mexican holiday similar to Halloween.

Read these two websites

http://www.dayofthedead.com/

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-hi...

First websearch is free, but only the first ;)