The day the dead are celebrated: from Mexico to Haiti, from Benin to the Philippines
Every year, around November 1 and 2, much of the world turns toward its dead. But not always in silence: in many countries, people remember by singing, dancing, eating together — and even flying kites. A journey through five celebrations where remembering the ancestors becomes a party.
1 · Mexico — the Day of the Dead
In Mexico, the indigenous feasts dedicated to the dead run from late October to early November. Families believe the deceased return temporarily among the living. They set up an altar at home, place their loved ones' favourite dishes on it, along with flowers, candles and cut-out paper, and trace with petals and candles the path from the cemetery to the house. These feasts have been on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008.
On Festival TV, the “Feasts of the Dead & of the Ancestors” collection brings together the catalogue's festivals devoted to memory: Día de Muertos in Oaxaca and the Xantolo of the Huasteca. Read also: Día de los Muertos — Mexico prepares to celebrate its dead like nowhere else.
2 · Haiti — the Fèt Gede
In Haiti, the Fèt Gede lasts two days in early November. Vodou followers gather in cemeteries to honour their ancestors. At the great cemetery of Port-au-Prince, they meet around a tomb associated with Baron Samedi, the guardian of the dead. They light candles, set up altars and offer food and rum to the spirits, in exchange for their protection.
3 · Guatemala — the giant kites of Sumpango
On November 1, in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, teams deploy giant kites that can reach about 18 metres in diameter. They are flown or carried through the cemeteries. According to tradition, inherited from Maya rituals, they guided souls back to earth. Today, they also carry messages for the living.
4 · Benin — the Egungun, when the ancestors come back to dance
Among the Yoruba, from Nigeria to Benin, the Egungun are masked figures who embody the spirits of the ancestors. Each costume is unique and covers the dancer entirely, so that only the ancestor is present. They come out for religious feasts or funeral rites and dance to the sound of drums. In Benin, their cult took root notably in Ouidah. The Egungun do not come out on a fixed date in November: they remind us that, all over West Africa, the ancestors are part of the celebration.
5 · The Philippines — Undas, the great family reunion
In the Philippines, Undas falls on November 1 and 2, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Its name comes from the Spanish “un día de los muertos”. Families gather in cemeteries; some even pitch a tent near the graves to spend the night. It is also a reunion, around shared dishes, notably glutinous rice cakes.
What these celebrations have in common
Everywhere, people remember together, as a family, with food, light and music. Remembering the dead becomes a moment of collective life. That is also what a celebration is: a way of telling those who have left that they are still part of the family.
Do you honour your ancestors in your own way?
Tell us about your family's, your village's or your community's celebration, and send us your images, with the consent of the people filmed. The most beautiful ones air on Festival TV, with your name.
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