The Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Death and Life

A tribute to Mexico’s most important holiday, this extraordinary and definitive volume documents the immense creativity displayed by this popular annual celebration.

While there have been other books about the Day of the Dead, most are long out of print and aridly academic. This book features both exceptional “traditional” Indigenous material — such as vibrant folk art and crafts, flamboyant costumes and masks, special food and drink—but also a much more funky, modern approach that blends lively music and dance, colorful parades, cutting-edge contemporary street art, and a festive atmosphere that engages all of the senses with handmade altars, flowers, painted skulls, toys, paintings, murals, and other art objects.

Featuring hundreds of specially commissioned photographs and voluminous in-depth research, the book is lavishly illustrated and designed with an aesthetic that draws on both traditional material as well as Mexico’s contemporary street art style. Blending visual elements inspired by the country’s pre-Hispanic heritage, European influences, and modern art trends, the book explores the evolution of the Day of the Dead and the special role it plays. This book is the definitive, authentic resource for all things Day of the Dead.

About the Authors:

Déborah Holtz and Juan Carlos Mena have created acclaimed books about Mexican culture and society including Tacopedia, Pedro Friedeberg, and most recently Avocadomania, the 2022 Gourmand World Cookbook Award winner.