7 Places in Mexico With the Most Beautiful Day of the Dead Celebrations

While Oaxaca's marketplaces celebrate el Día de los Muertos in big ways, there are also more traditional reminders across the city. Customarily tapetes de arena, or sand tapestries, are created outside of the home of someone who has recently died. On the Day of the Dead, the tapestries are found throughout Oaxaca's streets.

One of the most elaborate and beautiful-to-watch traditions on el Día de los Muertos is said to be the view as sailors in Janitzio and Pátzcuaro go out into the water with their lanterns, lighting in a symbolic tradition that lights the way for the deceased.

Aguascalientes hosts the Festival de Calaveras every year to honor el Día de los Muertos. While some of the events cater more to tourists, there are more traditional moments, like museum exhibitions and an honorary parade.

In Huaquechula, the indigenous community makes it a point to honor the dead in the best way they know how, with the building of cabos de año. These pyramid-like altars have three different levels: the first one represents earth; the second, heaven; and the third, the celestial peak.

The indigenous community in this oriental town anchors their Día de los Muertos celebrations on honoring those who have died with distinct dances and offerings. This day is so special to them that they've given it its own name: Xantolo.

In San Cristóbal de Casas, most of the traditional festivities take place in the cemeteries, where those in the community will perform music and dances in honor of the dead. The town is also known to host altar contests.

In Mérida, Yucatán, the celebration around el Día de los Muertos centers on the food that is prepared in honor of those who have passed. According to tradition, a special tamale called pibipollo will be made on the day.