McKinney's Día de los Muertos

Join us as we celebrate our loved ones who have done before us with music, dance, food, art and special Ofrendas alters). Día de los Muertos is a Latin American custom celebrating the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. It recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, beginning with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Día de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.

Many people make altars or “ofrendas” (offerings) in their homes to honor their loved ones who have died. Every ofrenda also includes the four elements: water, wind, earth and fire. However, the most familiar symbol of Día de los Muertos may be the Calacas and Calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday:in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and Calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations. Today, La Catrina is the most recognizable image of the Día de los Muertos. She has come to symbolize a willingness to laugh at death and a reminder that we are all equal in the end.

Events such as these cannot happen with out the generosity of our sponsors. Special thanks to McKinney Community Development Corporation (MCDC), HEB and the McKinney Chamber Foundation