Oaxaca Nights (Día de los Muertos)
Families in Oaxaca, Mexico, spend the days before the Day of the Dead (November 1-2) preparing the gravesite of the deceased. Here, ancestors are remembered and celebrated. Around the graves, ofrenda or offerings are often found, including food, drinks, flowers, personal items of relatives, photos, and more.
One of the most popular flowers associated with the tradition is the bright orange and yellow marigold flower, also known as the flor de cempasúchil. During the celebrations, families gather in the cemetery to light candles and welcome their loved ones to visit. Many cemeteries have their traditions, including some solely decorating graves with flowers and no candlelights.
In and around the streets of Oaxaca, different villages revel the nights away with band-offs and dances.