Día de los Muertos treats the deceased as honored guests returning to join the living, and the guests are typically the spirits of loved ones who have died. Families welcome them with offerings, altars, and rituals that invite memories and conversations across the boundary between life and death.

Key points about how families treat their guests and who these guests are:

• The guests are the souls of deceased family members and sometimes pets, believed to return for the annual gathering. Families create ofrendas (offerings) with foods, drinks, photos, and personal m items to welcome them home.

• Ofrendas are placed on home altars or at gravesites and are decorated with marigolds, candles, sugar skulls, and the deceased’s favorite items. The intention is to entice the spirits to visit and be nourished by the offerings.

• Children are honored with specific symbols like los angelitos (little angels), and adults are often represented with preferred foods and beverages, reflecting the tastes and memories of the departed.

• Some communities celebrate by spending time near graves, sometimes all night, and by telling anecdotes about the deceased to preserve memories and strengthen family bonds.

• The overarching purpose is to celebrate life, remember loved ones, and reaffirm family and cultural ties, rather than to mourn. The living invite the dead to reconnect and to be part of the family’s daily life during the festivities.

If you’re looking for a concise everyday explanation: Día de los Muertos treats the dead as welcomed guests, returning to reconnect with the living. Families prepare warm, personal offerings—food, beverages, and mementos—on vibrant altars to honor those who have passed and to celebrate the ongoing bond between generations.