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Everyone knows that Austin loves a party—especially one that involves costumes—and we wring all we can get out of October and early November, with the double whammy of Halloween and Días de los Muertos, celebrations of which in the United States this year stretch from Thursday, October 31 through Saturday, November 2.
There are many elements to Day of the Dead (actually two, and sometimes four, days), which is, as the Mexic-arte Museum website puts it, "an ancient, Mexican and Mexican American religious holiday, with a historically rich tradition that integrates pre-Columbian and Catholic customs. It is often celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2 (dates vary by region and may be longer) in connection with the Catholic Holy Days of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
"For many Latin American countries, it is a time to honor and greet the departed as they make their journey back to be with the living each year. These days are a time for families and friends to gather in celebration of life and death. The circle of life, rather than loss and sorrow, is embraced."
In other words, it's a commemoration and a party—one that includes making sugar skulls, dressing up according to different traditions, parades, music, dancing, and the all-important building and visiting of altars, ofrentes, for the deceased.
We've mapped out some places you can do those things this year, but please let us know in the comments of anything we left out. Viva la vida, y'all.
Map points are ordered west to east.
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