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Colorful “Day of the Dead” parade moves through Mexico City
Scary skeletons, elegant Catrinas: A parade for the “Day of the Dead” took place in Mexico City for the tenth time. The colorful spectacle goes back to a Bond film, the traditions are there
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Día de Muertos Colorful parade of the dead moves through Mexico City As of: November 1st, 2026 • 8:57 a.m
Scary skeletons, elegant Catrinas: A parade for the “Day of the Dead” took place in Mexico City for the tenth time. The colorful spectacle goes back to a Bond film, but the traditions behind it are much older.
On the occasion of the “Day of the Dead,” thousands of people in costumes marched through downtown Mexico City. They were accompanied by festively decorated floats and musical groups. According to the city administration, hundreds of thousands watched the spooky and beautiful event as spectators.
An eleven-story-high "La Catrina" was erected in the central Zócalo Square - the elegantly dressed female skeletal figure in a hat is a personification of death.
The street parade in the Mexican capital only emerged as a tourist attraction a few years ago. It was inspired by a scene from the James Bond film "Spectre". In one scene, the British agent walks through one of these parades in Mexico City - although up until then there had been no parade. "Everyone asked me: 'And the parade? When is the parade?'" former mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera, who organized the first parade in 2016, told AFP.
The Pixar film “Coco” also helped bring “Day of the Dead” closer to an international audience.
People in Mexico commemorate the deceased during "Dia de Muertos" tagesschau24, November 1st, 2026 • 9:00 a.m. How traditions mix On November 1st and 2nd, Mexicans honor their deceased with colorful offerings in houses and on lavishly decorated graves. Indigenous traditions are combined with the customs of the Catholic holidays of All Saints and All Souls.
According to tradition, the souls of family members from the afterlife come to visit on these days. Many Mexican families visit the graves of their loved ones - often with small gifts or food. In 2008, UNESCO added the indigenous festival tradition to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This topic in the program: The First | daily news | 11/01/2026 | 04:43