Día de los Muertos Or Day Of The Dead Celebration On Saturday

Día de los Muertos Or Day Of The Dead Celebration On Saturday Families are spreading bulks of marigold petals, lighting up candles for their loved ones and some are even wearing colorful skull makeup. It's Día de los Muertos.

On Saturday, Nov. 2 the 40th annual Day of the Dead celebration will take place in Dvorak (Anton) Park from 2 to 6:30 p.m. “Rooted in Mexican tradition, Dia de Muertos serves as a joyous occasion to celebrate life and honor the memory of loved ones that have passed away,” Chicago Park District organizers said.

The Mexican holiday, also known as Day of the Dead, extends over the first two days of November and has nothing to do with Halloween. It's an ode to the afterlife and a reminder that death is nothing to be afraid of.

Skulls were a powerful symbol in the Aztec culture, and some were used as tribute to Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of death. To celebrate the holiday, artisans spend hours turning sugar, hot water and lime into a sugar paste similar to caramel that they mold into skull-shaped treats of all sizes.

The colorful multi-level memorials are built in homes, schools and public places as a tribute to deceased loved ones. The different levels represent the underworld, Earth and heaven.

People flock to cemeteries through the holiday to visit the graves of dead relatives and friends. But they are not mourning or empty-handed.