Photos: Day of the Dead

Posted Nov 02, 2012

Day of the Dead focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed.(AP, Wikipedia)

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Catrinas, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico
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Detail of an ofrenda in Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico
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Altar de muertos.
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Ofrenda Maya-Chontal, in Tabasco.
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Mexican cempasśchitl (marigold) is the traditional flower used to honor the dead.
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Sculpture with skeletons made for Day of the Dead at the Museo de Arte Popular, Mexico City
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Gran calavera elŽctrica (ÇGreat electric skullČ) by JosŽ Guadalupe Posada, 1900Đ1913.
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Frangerato Salvador, 8, dressed as a Katarina, stands beside her brother's grave, marking the Day of the Dead holiday at the cemetery in San Gregorio, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the dead on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
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Madam Fuentes keeps vigil beside her parents' grave, marking the Day of the Dead holiday at the cemetery in San Gregorio, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the dead on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
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Candles illuminate graves freshly decorated by family and friends, marking the Day of the Dead holiday at the cemetery in San Gregorio, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the dead on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
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A Voodoo believer dressed as a Gede, or spirit, attends a Voodoo ritual dedicated to Baron Samdi and the Gede family of spirits on the Day of the Dead at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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A Voodoo believer dressed as a Gede, or spirit, walks in the National Cemetery during Day of the Dead celebrations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. Day of the Dead honors loved ones who have passed away. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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Villagers visit the cemetery in San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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People gather around the graves of their loved ones at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A woman performs an indigenous dance called Huaylia at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Families gather arround the graves of their loved ones at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A woman arranges candles on a relative's grave at the cemetery in San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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A woman visits the grave of a relative in the cemetery of San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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A woman rests next to the tomb of a relative in the cemetery in San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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A woman shares food with family next to the tomb of a relative at a cemetery in San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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Villagers visit the cemetery in San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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A woman rests next to the tomb of a relative in the cemetery in San Antonio Aguascalientes, Guatemala, where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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A Voodoo believer dressed as a Gede, or spirit, reacts during a Voodoo ritual dedicated to Baron Samdi and the Gede family of spirits on the Day of the Dead at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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A Voodoo believer dressed as a Gede, or spirit, lunges forward during a Voodoo ritual dedicated to Baron Samdi and the Gede family of spirits on the Day of the Dead at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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A woman lifts her hand in front of Baron Samedi's cross during a Voodoo ritual dedicated to Baron Samdi and the Gede family of spirits on the Day of the Dead at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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A Voodoo believer dressed as a Gede, or spirit, gestures from the top of Baron Samedi's cross during a Voodoo ritual dedicated to Baron Samdi and the Gede family of spirits on the Day of the Dead at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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A Voodoo believer dressed as a Gede, or spirit, takes part in a Voodoo ritual dedicated to Baron Samdi and the Gede family of spirits during Day of the Dead celebrations at the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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Voodoo believers sit around an image depicting a symbol dedicated to the Gede, family of spirits that embody the power of death and fertility, during a Day of the Dead voodoo ritual in Petionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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Candles burn within an image depicting a symbol dedicated to the Gede, family of spirits that embody the power of death and fertility, during a Day of the Dead voodoo ritual in Petionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
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A dog rests on a grave at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Musicians perform an indigenous dance called Huaylia at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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The owners of makeshift public bathrooms wait for customers, charging about 15 cents per person for use of the facilities, at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Street artists pose for a picture at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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People gather around the graves of their loved ones at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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People gather arround the graves of their loved ones at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Musicians, hired to play for three dollars per song, perform at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A boy holds a broken cross at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A couple arrange a bouquet of flowers to place on a grave at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Artists perform an indigenous dance called Huaylia at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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People carry a statue of La Santa Muerte or goddess of death at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Taxi driver Guillermo Lecaros converts his car into a makeshift flower shop during the Day of the Dead holiday and stations himself outside the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery, where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A man leaves flowers at the foot of a cross at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converged to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and Nov. 2, All Souls' Day. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Hilda Bolivar carries a megaphone to an evangelical gathering at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converged to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and Nov. 2, All Souls' Day. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Velentina Rojas, 5, right, and her sister Valeria, 2, rest on a tomb at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery on Day of the Dead in Lima, Peru, Nov. 1, 2012. Peru on Thursday marks the Day of the Dead, a holiday that honors the deceased and coincides with All Saints Day. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Musicians perform folkloric music at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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People gather among the grave of their loved one at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where many converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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People dance near the grave of a loved one at the Virgen de Lourdes cemetery where relatives converge to honor friends and family who have passed, marking the Day of the Dead holiday, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The holiday honors the deceased on Nov. 1, coinciding with All Saints Day and All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)