Day of the Dead Symbols, Colors, Traditions & Their Meanings
Marigolds, sugar skulls, papel picado: you’ve seen these Day of the Dead symbols on a trip to Mexico, on your Pinterest feed, or in a store aisle in October. But somewhere between the altar and the shelf, the meaning tends to get lost.
Growing up between Mexico and the US, I celebrated Día de Muertos with my family each year. My favorite job was scattering the marigold petals from the sidewalk to our front door so the spirits could find their way home.
The marigold petals aren’t just decoration. They’re an invitation. All of the elements of Day of the Dead carry meaning. And once you know them, an altar or a candlelit cemetery becomes more than a pretty scene. It starts telling a story about the people being remembered.
Here’s what each symbol means, the colors you’ll see everywhere, and the Day of the Dead traditions that bring it all together. Every one of them points back to the same idea: for Mexicans, death is not an ending. It’s a transformation.
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10 Day of the Dead Symbols
Every Day of the Dead symbol has a purpose.
The pungent smell of marigolds guides the spirits home. Copal incense purifies the space. And candles light the way.
Together, they explain how Día de Muertos in Mexico treats death as a part of life rather than the end of it.
1. La Catrina
La Catrina began as satire. In the early 1900s, José Guadalupe Posada drew a skull wearing a fancy French hat to poke fun at Mexicans who tried to pass as European.
Decades later, Diego Rivera gave her a full body, an elegant gown, and a new name in his 1947 mural (pictured above). Over time, she became the face of Día de Muertos.
Today, you’ll see her in clay figurines at the markets, in costumes at the parades, and on painted faces in the crowd.
La Catrina is the most iconic Día de Muertos symbol and a reminder that death is the great equalizer.
2. Calaveras (Skulls)
Calaveras, or skulls, represent both death and rebirth. Made from sugar, clay, or chocolate, they’re often decorated with bright colors and the names of loved ones. Rather than morbid, these smiling skulls embody the joy of remembrance and the acceptance of mortality as part of the cycle of life.
3. Calacas (Skeletons)
Calacas are full-bodied skeleton figures that often appear dancing or laughing. They are a cheerful reminder that death is not to be feared.
They’re common in parades, altars, and other decorations, reflecting Mexico’s unique ability to approach mortality with humor and heart.
4. Flowers
The cempasúchil, or Mexican marigold, is one of the most recognizable Day of the Dead symbols. Its vivid orange color and strong scent are believed to guide spirits home. Petals are scattered along pathways or used to decorate altars and graves.
It was always my job as a child to pluck the petals off the marigolds and scatter them as a path from the sidewalk through the front door and to the foot of our family altar. It lets spirits know they are welcome and that there is an ofrenda waiting for them.
Flor de terciopelo, known as cockscomb in English, is another of the most common flowers for Día de Muertos. You will often see vendors selling bundles of these velvety flowers throughout October and early November. They are used to decorate altars and gravesites as well.
5. Candles
If marigolds give the spirits a scent to follow, candles give them light. The flames that flicker on altars and graves help to guide souls on their way home.
Candles also represent fire, one of the four elements on a traditional ofrenda. Some families light one for each loved one they’re honoring, so the number of flames on an altar can tell you how many people are being remembered.
The color of a candle carries meaning too, which we’ll get into below.
6. Copal Incense
Copal, an aromatic tree resin used since pre-Hispanic times, is burned near altars to purify the space and attract the spirits.
Its rich, earthy aroma symbolizes the divine and creates a sacred environment. The rising smoke is thought to carry prayers to the heavens and serve as a spiritual beacon.
For Mexicans, death is not an ending. It’s a transformation.
– Xochitl (Author)
7. Pan de Muerto
Pan de muerto, or “bread of the dead,” is a soft, sweet bread decorated with bone-shaped dough. It’s often placed on altars and shared among family members during the celebration. The bread represents the cycle of life and death and is sustenance for both the living and the spirits.
When I was a kid, we always made our own pan de muerto at home. I had the distinctive job of using a molcajete to grind anise seeds, orange peel and other spices used to flavor the pan de muerto dough. You can make it in any shape, but the “skull and crossbones” are the traditional shapes and it’s usually dusted with white or pink sugar.
Aside from this most common version of day of the dead bread, there are a few varieties in other parts of Mexico. Oaxaca has the most variations, including bread with faces peeking out from the dough, breads shaped like a person, and flavor variations including guava and other fruits, nuts and seeds.
Pan de muerto is one of the most traditional Day of the Dead foods. Some places even offer a modern twist stuffed with cempasúchil (marigold) cream. Although not traditional, these treats can be fun to try!
8. Papel Picado
When you’re walking through Mexico, look up. Strands of papel picado, rows of paper or plastic banners cut with intricate designs, hang across streets, alleys, and plazas.
During Muertos you’ll find papel picado in seasonal colors like deep purples, vibrant orange hues, and even black. The designs typically depict marigolds, skulls, or skeletons and can be beautiful (or sometimes humorous) representations of everyday life.
9. Monarch Butterflies
Every autumn, millions of Monarch butterflies migrate to central Mexico, arriving around the time of Día de Muertos.
In some Indigenous belief systems these butterflies are believed to carry the souls of the departed. Their arrival marks a sacred symbol of renewal and continuity between worlds.
10. Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog)
In Aztec belief, the dead travel through nine levels of Mictlán (the underworld) before reaching their final resting place. One of those levels is a deep river, and the Xolo, a nickname for the Mexican hairless dog, is there to guide the soul across.
The breed is one of the oldest in the Americas, with roots going back at least 3,500 years. Its name pairs Xólotl, the Aztec god of death and lightning, with itzcuintli, the Nahuatl word for dog.
During Día de Muertos, you’ll find Xolos as clay figurines, paper maché sculptures, and painted alebrijes in markets and on altars.
Day of the Dead Colors + Meaning
Mexico is always colorful, but late October brings a new wave. Bundles of orange marigolds sit beside deep crimson cockscomb, with pinks, purples, and whites tucked in between.
As Día de Muertos gets closer, those flowers make their way onto altars, gravesites, and the entrances of shops and restaurants.
Each color is commonly associated with the meaning, though they vary from family to family and region to region.
- Orange – The color of cempasúchil (marigolds). In Mexico, orange is often describe as the color of mourning, a link many trace back to Mesoamerica. The Mexica also associated the color of marigolds with the sun, which helps explain why orange petals line the path to the altar.
- Purple – Rooted in Catholic tradition, purple symbolizes grief and mourning. You’ll see it in some flowers and mixed into strings of papel picado.
- Pink – Commonly tied to celebration, this Día de Muertos color is a reminder that the celebration is as much about joy as it is about loss.
- White – Associated with Purity and hope. It shows up in candles, sugar skulls, and the white cloth that covers many altars.
None of these are fixed rules. Color meanings have shifted over time, so treat them as a general guide.
Want to learn more? Here are 23 Day of the Dead facts to know.
5 Day of the Dead Customs
These Day of the Dead traditions are where the symbols come to life.
Although these customs vary based on region and family, the heart of Día de Muertos lies in a shared goal: to honor and reconnect with loved ones who have passed away.
11. Build an Altar
At the center of the home during Día de Muertos stands the ofrenda, a carefully built altar dedicated to the souls of the departed. Each level and item placed upon it carries meaning.
Photos, candles, marigolds, favorite mementos, and food help to guide the spirits back to the world of the living. Families include the deceased’s favorite dishes, drinks, or personal objects, turning the altar into a bridge between worlds.
Want to know what each element represents? Read our article about how to make your own Day of the Dead altar.
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12. Clean the Gravesite
Before the celebrations begin, families visit the cemetery to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. Weeds are pulled, gravestones are washed, and fresh flowers, usually marigolds, are placed.
This act of care is both practical and symbolic. It prepares the resting place for the spirits’ return and reflects deep respect for ancestors.
Did you know? In Pomuch, a small Maya town in Campeche on the Yucatán Peninsula, families take cleaning the gravesite a step further. Three years after a loved one is buried, their bones are exhumed, brushed clean by hand, and placed in a small wooden box in the cemetery.
Every year before Hanal Pixán, the Maya Day of the Dead, families return to clean the bones again and change the cloth they rest on. Pomuch is one of the last communities to keep this tradition alive, and in 2017, Campeche declared it part of the state’s cultural heritage.
13. Create a Sand Rug (Tapete de Arena)
In states like Oaxaca, Michoacan and Puebla, locals create tapetes de arena, or sand rugs. These intricate designs are made from colored sand, flowers, seeds, and sawdust.
These ephemeral artworks often depict religious imagery, skeletons, or floral motifs, and are laid out in front of altars, in plazas, or along processional routes.
14. Spend the Night in the Cemetery
Perhaps the most moving Día de Muertos ritual takes place in the cemeteries. Families gather at night, lighting thousands of candles that illuminate the graves. They share food, music, and stories until dawn, keeping vigil for the spirits who return home.
This overnight stay transforms grief into celebration. The cemetery glows with warmth and reverence, blurring the boundary between the living and the dead. You can learn more about the vigils in our guide to Day of the Dead in Michoacán.
15. Day of the Dead Parades: Comparsas + Muerteadas
Modern Day of the Dead customs include parades known as a comparsa or muerteada. These processions feature costumed participants, traditional music, and dramatic performances inspired by death and rebirth.
Although parades aren’t an ancient part of Día de Muertos in Oaxaca a few have become traditions of their own. The best known are the muerteadas of the Etla Valley, with roots going back about a century.
In these small towns, the residents dress in heavy costumes covered with thousands of small bells and mirrors. They take to the streets in the afternoon of November 1 and keep going well into the next day, stopping at homes along the way.
In recently years, the city of Oaxaca has added bigger comparsas and Mexico City has a couple of famous ones as well. Its parades are wildly popular, but it was inspired by the opening scene of the 2015 James Bond film, Spectre.
What is the most recognizable symbol for Day of the Dead?
The most recognizable symbol for Day of the Dead is La Catrina, a skeleton figure dressed in elegant clothes and a large hat. She represents the playful acceptance of death as the great equalizer. Orange marigolds are a close second, covering altars and graves across Mexico during Día de Muertos.
What are the flowers for Day of the Dead?
The primary flower for Day of the Dead is the cempasúchil (Mexican marigold). Its vivid orange color and distinct scent are believed to guide the spirits home. Other flowers such as baby’s breath, chrysanthemum, lilies, and red cockscomb are also used for balance and symbolism.
What are the four elements represented in the Day of the Dead celebrations?
The four elements represented in Day of the Dead celebrations are fire, wind, water, and earth. Each one serves the visiting souls: candles light their way, the flutter of papel picado is said to announce their arrival, water quenches their thirst after the long journey, and food gives them a taste of what they loved in life.
How to celebrate the Day of the Dead respectfully?
To celebrate Day of the Dead respectfully, learn about the holiday’s origins, traditions, and symbols. If you visit cemeteries or altars, do so quietly and with gratitude, and don’t wear costumes or face paint to graveyards. Support local artisans and communities rather than treating the event as a spectacle.
What not to do on Day of the Dead?
Here are some things you should not do on Day of the Dead: Avoid treating Día de Muertos as Halloween because it’s not about horror or fright. Don’t touch or move items on someone’s altar, and never interrupt family rituals in cemeteries. Instead, observe with respect, listen, and appreciate the beauty of remembrance.
Wrapping Up Day of the Dead Symbols and Customs
Día de Muertos is more than a holiday. It’s a philosophy of life. It reminds us that death does not sever love and that memory is a form of immortality.
Candles glowing on altars, the scent of marigolds, papel picado fluttering in the breeze: these Day of the Dead symbols show how Mexican families honor loss with beauty, gratitude, and joy.
You don’t have to be in Mexico to feel it. Wherever you celebrate, Día de Muertos offers a universal message: our loved ones never truly leave us.