Thursday marks the start of the DÍa de Muertos festival, a time of celebration and remembrance of friends and family who have died and embarked on their spiritual journey through the afterlife.

The two-day festival stems from the continuation of ancient Aztec rituals meant to honour those who had died. During the festival, people are encouraged to gather and pray to help those who have departed on their spiritual paths.

During the festival, families and communities gather to hold vigils and parties in honour of those they’ve lost. They decorate altars to commemorate the deceased, often decorating those altars with the deceased’s favourite foods or personal items, with the hopes that spirits will bless the loved ones.

Here are some things you may not know about the Day of the Dead festival.

It’s not Halloween, and it’s not supposed to scare anyone

While the subject is understandably upsetting for many, people celebrating this festival tend to leverage symbols of death alongside a point of death that there is humour in death. Festival celebrators tend to believe that death is something that should be celebrated in a lively way, and not something to be afraid of.

The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 Show all 45 1 /45 The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 TOPSHOT - A person takes part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 TOPSHOT - People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 TOPSHOT - People in costume walk at Hollywood Forever Cemetery during the cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 TOPSHOT - A woman in costume poses as she attends Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People in costume attend Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 Women in costume pose as they attend Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People in costume attend Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 Women in costume attend Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People in costume walk at Hollywood Forever Cemetery during the cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 epaselect epa07125604 A woman participates in a parade held to commemorate the traditional 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico City, Mexico, 27 October 2018. The Mexican capital began today its commemoration for the Day of the Dead with a massive parade and an vigil in the capital's center held to remember the migrants who have lost their lives in transit across Mexico en route to the USA. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN MARIO GUZMAN EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman in costume poses as she attends Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A little boy in costume attends Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman does another's makeup as they attend Hollywood Forever Cemetery's 19th annual Dia De Los Muertos event on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images CHRIS DELMAS AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 epa07125616 People participate in a parade held to commemorate the traditional 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico City, Mexico, 27 October 2018. The Mexican capital began today its commemoration for the Day of the Dead with a massive parade and an vigil in the capital's center held to remember the migrants who have lost their lives in transit across Mexico en route to the USA. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN MARIO GUZMAN EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 epa07125613 People participate in a parade held to commemorate the traditional 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico City, Mexico, 27 October 2018. The Mexican capital began today its commemoration for the Day of the Dead with a massive parade and an vigil in the capital's center held to remember the migrants who have lost their lives in transit across Mexico en route to the USA. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN MARIO GUZMAN EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A boy in a Batman costume watches the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images ALFREDO ESTRELLA AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 epa07125603 People participate in a parade held to commemorate the traditional 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico City, Mexico, 27 October 2018. The Mexican capital began today its commemoration for the Day of the Dead with a massive parade and an vigil in the capital's center held to remember the migrants who have lost their lives in transit across Mexico en route to the USA. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN MARIO GUZMAN EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman takes a picture of a figure of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo lying in bed, during the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images ALFREDO ESTRELLA AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A skull puppet is seen during the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images ALFREDO ESTRELLA AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A disguised woman parades during the Day of the Dead celebration, in the third Big Parade in Mexico City, on October 27, 2018. - The parade is promoted by Mexican municipality and it is inspired by the James Bond 007 movie "Spectre". (Photo by ROCIO VAZQUEZ / AFP)ROCIO VAZQUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ROCIO VAZQUEZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 Picture taken during the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman takes part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman takes part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A man takes part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A man takes part in the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman takes part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 A woman walks before her performance in the Day of the Dead parade on Reforma avenue in Mexico City, Saturday Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Christian Palma) Christian Palma AP

The serious tone of Day of the Dead is accompanied by rich and colourful decorations. The carnivalesque atmosphere, and the sugar skulls, are a representation of the belief that death is simply a continuation of the life cycle.

The festival is primarily celebrated in Mexico, but can be seen in many parts of Latin America

The Mexican festivities are by far the best known, but Mexican communities in America and South America also take the time to celebrate death each year.

In the Philippines, families are known to spend the night in graveyards playing cards and drinking.

The festival is also seen celebrated in Brazil, Ecuador, and Belize. Those individual celebrations tend to have their own small variations on the celebration as a whole.

The colours of the skull and face paints have specific meanings

Yellow represents sun and unity because — under the sun — we are all the same.

White is used to depict the spirit, and purity.

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Red represents life, or, more specifically, the blood of life.

Purple represents the understandable mourning that is felt by those who lose loved ones.

Pink signifies happiness.

Flowers, butterflies, and skulls represent are used as symbols