Here are 16 Día de los Muertos activities for you and your family to try if you plan to honor and celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Since Día del los Muertos and Halloween are just a day apart, some may feel there is a connection between the two, but there isn’t.
What Is Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead?
For anyone who is needs a refresher on the significance of Día de los Muertos, according to Wikipedia,
“The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos)[1][2] is a holiday celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November.
It originated and is mostly observed in Mexico but also in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere.
…The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died.
These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[4]“
-Wikipedia
Creative Activities For Día de Los Muertos
The Día de los Muertos celebration will look different for each family since they are paying respects to specific family members or friends.
And, among other things, an altar may include both decorations and food.
This means that any one of the below 16 activities may be a great fit for whomever you choose to honor or however you want to celebrate.
HANDMADE CRAFTS
This decorative Day of the Dead bookmark is a great way to keep little hands busy creating something that can use every day.
Create a colorful and festive DIY gnome to honor and celebrate the Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos!
These gorgeous coloring pages are full of beautiful illustrations.
All they need is a little color to bring the Day of the Dead to life!
Head to the Dollar Store, then break out your fabric to create this fun Day of the Dead-themed pumpkin.
Join Maria as she explores facts about Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, in this free printable 13-page learning packet.
Within this activity packet, kids will enjoy learning about the Day of the Dead through fun coloring pages, puzzles, word search, math sheets, and a colorful memory game.
This tissue paper flowers can be used to decorate virtually anything.
The supplies are straightforward and easy to purchase and it's a family-friendly project so everyone can contribute.
This bookmark project is involves printing and folding, so it's a great project for families who want to do something Day of the Dead-inspired, but need a quick craft.
Try this Day of the Dead adult and kids mindful coloring, and sit down and enjoy time with your child on Día de los Muertos.
This includes a whole series of coloring with a sheet for kids and one for adults - one simple, one much more complicated.
Pallet art always adds some flair to your ambiance and aesthetic.
And this unique calavera (skull) art was made using a recycled pallet so it's good for the planet too.
This project is perfect for Dia de Los Muertos, but you can keep it up all year!
This free printable Día de los Muertos Coloring Book is a fun way for your kids to celebrate the day.
It contains 20+ pages of pictures to print and color, all centered around the Día de los Muertos theme.
Free Printable Halloween Coloring Pages for Adults, Teens, and Kids
These free printable day of the dead coloring pages are a fun, relaxing & creative outlet.
Kids and adults alike can lean in to the history and significance of the holiday.
FOOD IDEAS
Pan de Muerto is a yummy and soft bread traditionally made for Día de Los Muertos.
It is not only placed on altars but also enjoyed with a cup of coffee.
These tamales are a longstanding tradition of the Yucatan Peninsula to celebrate Day of The Dead.
They're a baked tamale and wrapped in banana leaves.
Arroz con Leche (or Mexican Rice Pudding) is a delicious Mexican dessert made from simple ingredients including rice, milk, cinnamon, and sugar.
It can be served hot or cold and is guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth on Día de Los Muertos.
I included an additional pan de muerto recipe, because this recipe shows you how to make it in your Instant Pot.
In fact, this homemade bread is a great way to save time and money.
Use the Air Fryer Lid for best results.
Mexican candied pumpkin is a traditional dessert to celebrate Día de Los Muertos.
It's a tender pumpkin simmered in brown sugar with aromatic spices and served with milk.
It's a must for the festivities!
Have Fun Celebrating!
There are so many different ways to honor and celebrate Día de los Muertos.
I hope that you found at least one new way to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
And since October also means Halloween, I will leave you with some additional ideas.
Why not try one of these 10 last minute Halloween-themed accessories?
And if you can only choose one, I know from personal experience that the perler bead glow in the dark earrings are sure to get lots of compliments.