The Indigenous roots of Day of the Dead.

Image by Ernesto Rodríguez from Pixabay

The Mexican tradition known as “Dia de Muertos” (Day of the Dead) has slowly spread from Indigenous communities in southern Mexico into the mainstream U.S. consciousness. In the days leading up to November 1st, popular media and businesses are flooded with images of calaveras, sugar skulls, marigolds, and beautifully decorated altars. And if the recent success of the animated film Coco is any indication, Day of the…