Día de Muertos

In 2008 UNESCO inscribed Mexico’s “Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead” — the Day of the Dead — on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, after first proclaiming it a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2003. On November 1 and 2, families set up ofrendas (altars) with cempasúchil flowers, food, photographs and candles to welcome the souls of their loved ones back home.

Mexico has other elements on the UNESCO list as well, such as mariachi (2011) and traditional Mexican cuisine (2010), but the Day of the Dead was recognized before them.