Flowers, especially marigolds, are very important to the Day of the Dead traditions. This man prepares a cart to sell flowers.

Marigolds are an important part of the traditional Day of the Dead altars.

Before the day of the dead, the cemetery at Mixquic Mexico is much like any other in the world.

The graveyard in Mixquic is consumed with activity as relatives prepare for the celebration.

Relatives clean and decorate the graves on the morning of November 2.

As evening approaches, family members light candles around the gravesites.

Thousands of orange and purple marigolds are used during the Day of the Dead celebration.

Family members spend the night of November 2nd at the graveyard Family members spend the night of November 2nd at the graveyard. Relatives are expected to honor the deceased members of their families by visiting their graves, making offerings to the dead and reminiscing about the past.

Graves are colorfully adorned and lit with candles during the celebration.

The cemetery at Mixquic, Mexico is filled with light during the evening. Families surround the graves with candles and spend the night honoring their deceased relatives.

During the Day of the Dead celebration, vendors line the streets to sell food and trinkets to the visitors. This woman is selling traditional sweet breads.

A young woman is dressed in a skeleton costume to celebrate the spirit of the day.

Halloween traditions have mixed in with the Day of the Dead Halloween traditions have mixed in with the Day of the Dead. This little boy, carrying a gourd with a candle in it, collects coins and candy as part of the calavacita tradition, similar to trick-or-treating.

Children prepare for the festivities by making paper Mache masks that they will decorate. At the end of the three-day celebration, the children will wear the masks and parade through the streets in an effort to scare the dead back to the underworld.

Candy skulls are popular during the Day of the Dead celebration.

After the grave is cleaned, it is ready to be decorated with flowers and candles.

In Mixquic, Mexico the market is full of vendors each night of the three-day celebration.

This woman sells hand-woven trinkets made of palm leaves on the streets of Mixquic, Mexico.

Hand-woven trinkets made of palm leaves are sold on the streets during the three-day celebration.

A giant altar is created on the steps of the Cristobol Colon school in Mixquic, Mexico.

Sugar Skulls