AUSTIN, Texas — It’s that time of year when we get not just one, but two special days that call our attention to the supernatural: Halloween and the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos/Día de Muertos. And although the holidays are close together on the calendar, each one has its own distinct set of traditions.
Of course, Halloween hardly needs an introduction. Some historians trace the roots of Halloween back 6,000 years.
"You can do trick-or-treating and you dress up in fun costumes and, you know, it's a fun celebration for the family. But it's not a spiritual type of celebration," said Olivia Tamzarian with the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican Cultural Center.
Halloween is rooted in Ireland and, in modern times, is celebrated with parties, pumpkins, candy and haunted houses.
But Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead was adopted by Aztec culture. This Mexican holiday is celebrated on Nov. 1-2 in parts of Latin America and the U.S.
The purpose of the holiday is to honor friends and family who have died. Celebrations include family gatherings, cemetery visits and the creation of altars or "ofrendas" in your home.
"It's about inviting the memories of those who've passed away to come join us just for those two days. It's healthy to have an association with folks that we've lost that's a joyful one," Tamzarian said. "It's not a sad holiday. It's supposed to be kind of a family reunion, and you have the whole family – even the members who have passed on."
Tamzarian gave KVUE Daybreak a peek at what a typical ofrenda would look like.
"We have the pan dulce.. Fruits and vegetables that you want to put on the altar. That kind of remind us of the sweetness of life," she said.
There are also pictures, decorative paper called papel picado and bright marigold flowers.
"It's tradition always to use the marigolds to kind of draw the memory of the deceased at the altar. They have kind of a pungent smell. And also the orange color is visible at night," Tamzarian said.
The imagery between the two holidays is also different. Day of the Dead is colorful and bright, and you'll often see skull masks or people in full calavera face paint. Meanwhile, Halloween can be a bit scarier and darker, with symbols that include skeletons, ghosts and big spiders.
Mark your calendars for Nov. 2! The Mexican-American Cultural Center is hosting its Día de los Muertos event at Pan American Neighborhood Park from 2-8 p.m. There will be art installations, face painting, live music, sugar skull decorating, food trucks and a couple thousand people in attendance.