Day Of The Dead : NPR

Bread Babies And Purple Drink: Ecuador's Spin On Day Of The Dead

At Calderón cemetery near Quito, Ecuador, a woman shares a meal as a way to remember her loved ones. Amy E. Robertson/NPR hide caption

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Amy E. Robertson/NPR

Bread Babies And Purple Drink: Ecuador's Spin On Day Of The Dead

November 2, 2016 • While Mexico's Día de los Muertos is better known in the U.S., the day is observed widely through Latin America, with customs as diverse as the people. In Ecuador, it's Dia de los Difuntos.

Karen Castillo FarfÃ¡n/NPR

Sugar Skulls, Tamales And More: Why Is That Food On The Day Of The Dead Altar?

November 1, 2016 • Food and drink are a big part of the festivities — they are ofrendas, or offerings, put on altars to entice deceased loved ones to come back for a visit.

Decoding The Food And Drink On A Day Of The Dead Altar

Elaborately decorated skulls are crafted from pure sugar and given to friends as gifts. The colorful designs represent the vitality of life and individual personality. Karen Castillo Farfán /NPR hide caption

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Karen Castillo Farfán /NPR

The Salt

Decoding The Food And Drink On A Day Of The Dead Altar

October 29, 2014 • The Mexican tradition celebrates the dead and welcomes their return to the land of the living once a year. Enticing them to make the trip is where the food, drink and musical offerings come in.

Day Of The Dead, Decoded: A Joyful Celebration Of Life And Food

Skeletons: Skeleton imagery pervades this holiday. In pre-Columbian times, the Day of the Dead was celebrated in August. It now takes place on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, coinciding with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Karen Castillo FarfÃ¡n/NPR hide caption

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Karen Castillo FarfÃ¡n/NPR

The Salt

Day Of The Dead, Decoded: A Joyful Celebration Of Life And Food

November 1, 2012 • The ancient Latin American holiday welcomes ancestors back to the earth for one day each year. Each element on the altar symbolizes a connection between the world of the living and the dead, so naturally, food and drink play a big part. Here we've deconstructed the altar and its meaning.