November 1st and 2nd are celebrated in Mexico as the Day of the Dead or El Día de los Muertos. These two dates coincide with All Saints Day and All Souls Day in the Christian Church and are actually a fusion of the ancient Aztec celebration of the dead and the Christian days honoring those who have departed this life.

While El Día de los Muertos is NOT the Mexican version of Halloween the two celebrations are indirectly related in that both occur in late Autumn and both involve a connection between our world and the world of spirits. All Saints Day and All Souls Day do provide an additional link of sorts because both the Day of the Dead and Halloween are pre-Christian celebrations that the Church re-directed toward Christianity.

Here are two videos showing El Día de los Muertos as it is celebrated in rural Mexico.

The American Southwest was originally a part of Spanish New Spain and later Mexico so the Mexican and Spanish culture is a part of the culture of the Southwest just as the English culture is very noticable in the Northeast and French in Louisiana.

Here are three videos showing Day of the Dead celebrations in Los Angeles, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona.

El Día de los Muertos - Mexican Day of the Dead - The history and traditions behind the Day of the Dead celebration.

Pan de Muertos - Bread of the Dead - recipe for making Bread of the Dead which is prepared and served as part of the holiday as well as the lore behind the bread.