Where to Celebrate in the DMV – NBC4 Washington

In recent years, many people in the US have adopted the tradition of building an altar for ‘Day of the Dead’ or ‘Día de los Muertos’, partly due to the influence of the Disney film ‘Coco’. This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and in some American cities, such as Washington DC

As a Mexican tradition that focuses on remembering our ancestors, it has a rich historical background.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 2. However, the celebration starts on October 27 and lasts until November 3.

The original tradition of ‘Mexica culture’ believed that there is a process of birth and death. According to the Mexica view, the soul leaves the body and travels through seven levels in the underworld or ‘Mictlan’.

Each level represents a trial until reaching the ninth level where eternal rest would be achieved.

Therefore, an original traditional altar consists of seven levels, representing the seven Mexica destinations where the soul supposedly arrived. However, under the influence of Catholicism, they began to create altars with two levels representing heaven and earth, or three levels including a purgatory.

How do you make an altar for the dead?:

While the most important thing about a mortuary altar is the feeling behind it, here are some steps to keep in mind if you’re planning to build an altar for the first time.

• Salt and white tablecloth: to represent purity, and salt as the purifying element for the souls to pass back and forth from their world to ours.

• Sugar and Chocolate Skulls: Skulls represent death and sugar and chocolate represent sweet tranquility.

• Copal and incense: keep evil spirits at bay so that good souls can enter.

• Cempasúchil flowers: they are used to represent the sun because of their bright yellow color. They are placed as guides marking the path to the entrance of the altar, to guide the souls.

• Food: Welcomes loved ones who come to visit with their favorite dishes.

• Photos: Photos of loved ones that people hope will visit their altar (drawings or images of them for ancestors or the deceased without photos are also important).

• The pan de muerto is a display of affection for those who are no longer with us.

The four elements in the altar of the dead

A traditional Day of the Dead altar contains images of the four natural elements: wind, water, fire and earth:

• Excitement: paper cutouts
• Water: in a jar or glasses to quench the thirst of the souls
• Fire: candles
• Earth: flowers, fruit and bread

While the big celebration takes place on November 1 and 2 in most Mexican regions, the Day of the Dead begins on October 28.

October 28

The first candle is lit and a white flower is placed to welcome the lost souls. People commemorate those who died tragically, as a result of violence or accidents.

October 29

A candle is lit for the forgotten souls, for those who no longer have anyone to pray for them.

October 30 and 31

A candle is lit for those who died without being baptized, who died before birth, or very young. These days are dedicated to all children.

November 1

According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH), “November 1 is All Saints’ Day, in honor of those who have lived exemplary lives, as well as children.” Another candle is lit and preparations are made to welcome our ancestors on November 2.

November 2

The celebration includes various rituals, such as gravestone decoration and altar making, which are held in cemeteries to help the souls transition from the underworld to Earth.

Why is the cempasúchil flower used?

“Cempasúchil” is a Nahuatl word meaning “flower with twenty petals”. The Mexica used it for medicinal purposes and according to pre-Hispanic cosmovision, the yellow color evoked the sun, which served as a light to guide the souls of the deceased from the cemetery to their homes.

What is ‘pan de muerto’?‘

Pan de muerto is one of the most typical elements of the sacrifice to the deceased. It is a sweet bread with wheat flour, milk, egg, yeast, sugar, salt, butter and flavored with anise and orange.

According to the chronicle of Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a Spanish conquistador, the ritual involved sacrificing a girl to the gods, and her still-beating heart was placed in a pot of amaranth. Then the priest of the rite bit the organ as a sign of gratitude.

The Spanish rejected these types of sacrifices and made a heart-shaped wheat bread, bathed in sugar dyed red to simulate the girl’s blood.

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Día de Muertos events in DC

Paint and celebrate: Día de los Muertos in El Centro

1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC

Wednesday October 30

Cost: $60

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Día de los Muertos with the National Museum of the American Latino

La Cosecha, 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

November 1 at 7:00 PM and November 2 at 4:00 PM

Cost: FREE

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Día de los Muertos Block Party

Bryant Street Market: 670 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington, DC

November 1 from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Cost: FREE

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Day of the Dead and Tequila Fest

November 1 from 7:00 PM to November 2 at 2:30 AM

Penn Social, 801 E Street NW Washington, DC 20004

Cost: $29.99 for a single ticket or 2 tickets for $30

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Exhibition: El muerto al pozo en el vivo al gozo

Mexican Cultural Institute, 4th Floor, 2829 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

November 2 to November 27

Cost: FREE

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Día De Los Muertos Unidos Benefit Festival

Washington Monument Grounds, 15th Street & Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20024

November 2 at 4:00 PM to November 3 at 1:00 AM

Cost: FREE

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Día de los Muertos at The Wharf

The Wharf, 760 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

November 2 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Cost: FREE

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El Día de los Muertos festival

National Portrait Gallery, Kogod Courtyard, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001

November 2 from 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Cost: FREE. Registration encouraged.

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Día de los Muertos at the Congress Cemetery

Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E Street, Southeast, Washington, DC 20003

November 2 from 11am – 3pm

Cost: FREE, but donations are welcome

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Piñatas, Poemas y Apapachos pa’l Alma

La Cosecha: 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

November 3 from 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Cost: $5 – $30 depending on activity

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Black Tie Day of the Dead Embassy Fiesta

Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th St NW Washington, DC 20009

November 9 from 8:30 PM – 11:45 PM

Cost: $139

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Día de Muertos events in Maryland

Day of the Dead Cocktails at National Harbor

Rosa Mexicano, 153 Waterfront Street Oxon Hill, MD 20745

October 30 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Costs: €71.21 (tickets at the door)

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Día De Los Muertos Costume Party

mix Food Hall, 3809 Rhode Island Avenue Brentwood, MD 20722

November 1 from 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Cost: FREE admission, $5 drink specials, food available for purchase

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Day of the Dead: Making a memory

VisArts, 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850

November 2 from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Cost: $5

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Día de los Muertos at Shmidt Spirits

Shmidt Spirits Distillery, 10360 Southard Drive Beltsville, MD 20705

November 2 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Costs: €20 entrance fee

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Sugar skull musical

Weinberg Center for the Arts: 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick, Maryland

November 2 at 2 p.m

Cost: $10 – $20

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Día de Muertos events in Virginia

Día de los Muertos Evening Picnic

Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22201

November 1 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Cost: FREE

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Del Ray’s Day of the Dead 2024

Del Ray Restaurants, 2400 meters Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

November 2 from 12:00 – 18:00

Cost: FREE to check in. Special offers on food and drinks are available for purchase

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Día de los Muertos Celebration in Banditos

Banditos Tacos & Tequila Fairfax, 10621 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA

November 2 from 12 noon. until midnight

Cost: FREE admission, food and drinks available for purchase

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Where to buy pan de muerto in the DMV:

Cocolita food

Chef Carla of Cocolita Food is offering her traditional pan de muerto, decorated with a chocolate skull, for pickup at the National Union Building in DC. Pre-order by sending an email to [email protected]

💲 Price: $2 – $8 depending on size.

📍 Address: 918 F St NW, Washington, DC

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Panaderia Mi Pueblo

This traditional Mexican bakery in Alexandria offers Pan de Muerto at a very affordable price.

To pre-order, call (703) 746-8697 or walk in for same-day pickup. You can only pay in cash, but there is an ATM on site.

💲 Price: $1.99 for an individual pan de muerto

📍 Address: 8401 Richmond Hwy. Suite F Alexandria, Virginia

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Mexican bakery Adela

This Reston cottage bakery is currently sold out for the holidays. However, she offers pan de muerto all year round, so you can satisfy your craving even out of season.

To order, DM on Instagram or contact us via WhatsApp.

💲 Price: $27 for half a dozen; $37 for a dozen

📍Reston, VA

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Cinco de Mayo Bakery & Taqueria

This bakery and restaurant in Glen Burnie offers pan de muerto alongside a hot coffee or atole.

📍 Address: 445 N. Crain Hwy Glen Burnie, Maryland

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Apapacho Taqueria

This Union Market taquería has only been open six months, but they’re offering all the traditional Mexican dishes, including pan de muerto.

To order, come by or order online.

💲 Price: $8.99 for an individual pan de muerto

📍 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002