Wednesday night marks the end of the annual Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead festival, celebrated across Mexico and observed by Mexican-American communities acoss the US.

The two-day festival developed from ancient rituals designed by the Aztecs to commemorate relatives who had died during the year, and encourages people to get together to pray and support the spiritual journies of the dead.

Families hold vigils, present offerings to the deceased and hold large parties and gatherings in the belief that spirits will bless them with good luck and protection. The wearing of skull make-up and use of skull icons is encouraged as part of the festival.

Meanwhile this year Mexico City celebrated the festival with its first ever official parade, inspired by a famous scene from the latest James Bond film Spectre.

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

It's not meant to be frightening

Despite the prevalence of skulls and the macabre outfits people wear (and the festival having a name which brings to mind a zombie horror film), Mexicans tend to see the humour in death and strongly believe death is something to be celebrated in a lively way, and not to be afraid of.

Day of the Dead is intended to be a sombre, serious festival in some ways - but it is celebrated in a colourful, carnival-esque atmosphere and sugar skulls are eaten as a reminder that death is a sweet continuation of the life cycle.

In some parts of Mexico, children don costumes for their version of trick-or-treating, but there is no suggestion of monsters or frightening creatures being involved.

Traditions vary from town to town

The traditions and activities that take place in celebration of the Day of the Dead are not universal, often varying from place to place across Mexico.

In the town of Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, the tradition is very different if the deceased is a child rather than an adult. On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the godparents set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, pan de muerto (a type of sweet roll), a cross and candles. This is meant to celebrate the child's life, in respect and appreciation for the parents.

Mexico City held its first ever public parade for the festival this year (REUTERS)

There is also dancing with colorful costumes, often with skull-shaped masks and devil masks in the plaza or garden of the town. At midnight on November 2, the people light candles and ride winged boats called mariposas (butterflies) to Janitzio, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there.

The town of Ocotepec meanwhile opens its doors to visitors in exchange for small wax candles to show respect for the recently deceased. Many people of the surrounding areas arrive early to eat for free and enjoy the elaborate altars set up to receive the visitors.

It's also celebrated in the Philippines and South America

The modern celebrations of Day of the Dead are thought to have been imported to the Philippines when the islands were governed from Mexico City by the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the 1500s.

As in Mexico, Filipinos use the holiday to visit and tend to family tombs. Families are known to spend the night in graveyards, playing card games and drinking to feel close to their deceased relatives.

Festival goers are known to often celebrate by visiting the graves of relatives (REUTERS)

Variations of the festival are also celebrated on November 2 in Brazil, where it is known as Finados, in Ecuador, where families cook ceremonial foods, and Belize, where it is known as Day of the Skulls - and residents crown the skulls of relatives with fresh flowers.

People write hilarious poems about their dead friends

Creative festival goers are known to write short poems, often like limericks, called "calaveras" which are intended to mock the epitaphs of deceased friends.

In the poems, the authors typically describe odd habits their friends had, poke fun at their attitudes to life and include funny anecdotes.

'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Show all 17 1 /17 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A woman holds her baby as she gets helped into her costume in preparation for the start of a Day of the Dead parade along Mexico City's main Reforma Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones are fast changing under the influence of Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics. Mexico's capital was holding its first Day of the Dead parade, an idea actually born out of the imagination of a scriptwriter for last year's James Bond movie "Spectre." In the film, whose opening scenes were shot in Mexico City, Bond chases a villain through crowds of revelers in what resembled a parade of people in skeleton outfits and floats. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Women wearing costumes participate in the "Day of the Dead" parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A float with a skull figure participates in the "Day of the Dead" parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Thousands of people try to get a glimpse of a Day of the Dead parade at the main Zocalo plaza in Mexico City, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics are fast changing Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A costumed couple poses for a photo during a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics are fast changing Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People look at the "Day of the Dead" parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A woman dressed in a skeleton costume parades during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016. Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico epa05609299 People dressed as a the Death participate in a parade during Day of the Dead celebrations at the Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico, 29 October 2016. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People in costume parade during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016. Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Floats depicting "Catrinas" and other death related characters and offerings march during the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016. The parade is promoted by Mexico's City Municipality and it is inspired by the James Bond 007 movie "Spectre". / AFP PHOTO / MARIA CALLSMARIA CALLS/AFP/Getty Images Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico epa05609300 People dressed and painted as Mexican popular character Catrina and the Death participate in a parade during Day of the Dead celebrations at the Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico, 29 October 2016. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A man in costume takes a selfie during a Day of the Dead parade along Mexico City's main Reforma Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics are fast changing Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico epaselect epa05609301 People dressed in traditional costumes participate in a parade during Day of the Dead celebrations at the Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico, 29 October 2016. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People walk in a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016. Picture taken October 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ginnette Riquelme Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People walk in a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016. Picture taken October 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ginnette Riquelme Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Famers harvest cempasuchilt and velvet flowers to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico. The flowers will be sold at the 'Market of the flower EPA

The custom is believed to have originated in the late 18th century and poems are often accompanied by elaborate drawings.

The festival is a protected cultural heritage

In 2008, the Day of the Dead was written into the list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity by UNESCO, alongside religious celebrations, dances and skills from around the world.