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Dia de Los Muertos | Monday, October 31, 2011 at 8:00AM
Dia de Los Muertos is a ritual that began with the Aztecs and is still celebrated in Mexico and in various places in the United States today. While most people consider death to be the end of life, the Aztecs believed that it was simply a continuation of life and so they embraced death. Instead of mourning those who have passed away, Dia de Los Muertos is about celebrating life. It's a way to remember all the good deceased family members and friends did while they were alive. The common tradition involves visiting the cemetery, decorating the tombstones with family photographs, orange marigolds, toys or tequila, and then celebrating with a picnic. Participants often wear skull masks called calacas and dance to lively music. It's even believed that the festivities are so welcoming that the dead return to celebrate with those they left behind.