‘Día de los Muertos’, or Day of the Dead is celebrated in towns and cities throughout Mexico and is a happy holiday focused on keeping the memories of lost loved ones alive and celebrating the continuation of life beyond the realms of this world. The holiday sees locals dress up in colourful costumes and the impressive sugar skull make-up creations are mesmerising as parades with impressive skull art and characters on floats accompany the crowds of people singing and dancing.
So if you’re bored to death of traditional Halloween events, pay homage to the heart warming traditions of Mexico instead with your own version of the Day of the Dead holiday. Read on for our go–to list to create your own FIESTA of spooky fun this Autumn.
Light it up!
To set the ambiance, every Dia de los Muertos party needs candles to inject twilight bursts of luminosity around the venue. To ensure you stick with the colourful theme, check out these ‘Day of the Dead’ candles from Rancho La Puerta Wellness Spa in Mexico which are individually hand painted so that no two candles are the same!
Hanging Off Me!
An easy yet effective to dress your home for your Day of the Dead fiesta, use decorative ornaments! They can hang from your door handles, plants, vases, candles – even hang from your own costume! We love these vibrant skull heads available instore and online from ‘Okla’. They showcase independent artists and makers – celebrating handmade, fair trade and ethical goods!
Don’t get sharp with me!
Ok so this isn’t strictly Day of the Dead in theme but this flaming fuchsia cactus from Audenza is so on POINT with its Mexican vibes.. The colour pops against any wall and also provides that banging Insta photo background we all need.
Bone Bites!
Traditionally during the day of the dead festivities people create an altar containing the favourite foods and drinks of their loved ones who have passed to the other side. We love this skeleton serving board from ‘I Saw It First’ as a prop to showcase your favourite foods, simply add croquettes to the collar bones, Iberian ham to the hips and tacos to the torso! If you need inspo for your taco fillings, check out our previous blog here. Remember to use code OBeach50 for 50% off!
It’s Art Baby!
Ditch the bland neutral prints this Autumn and dress your walls with quirky on theme artwork! We think Heather Calderon hits the nail on the skull head with these eerie yet vibrantly colourful pieces, available to buy on Fine Art America.
For La Reina de la fiesta
The hostess of every party NEEDS to be the best dressed. For the Day of the Dead Diamond why not go all out with a magnificent headdress from Avaitrix NYC – available to buy on Etsy. The piece features a fake skull with a jaw bone crown, handmade gold lace and strings of Swarokski crystals. You’ll be REIGNING with this design for sure.
Get Into The Spirit!
If you’re like us, every holiday comes hand in hand with a cocktail and for this holiday we recommend the awakening ‘Red Punch’ by Ciroc. Simply fill a highball glass with ice, add 50ml of Cîroc Red Berry, 75ml cranberry juice and 75ml tonic water and gently stir to combine. As you stir, BEWARE of the shocking scarlett hue that will appear as the bloody red liquid rises to the surface!
Want all of this FIESTA FUN without the hard work? Come to our last supper club of the year for our Mexican Dia De Los Muertos supperclub Mex-I-Boo on Sunday 31st October from 8pm! Click here to book now!
