Read the text below and select the correct word or phrase for each gap from the drop-down list.
Día de los Muertos: Honouring the Dead
Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition that from a blending of Indigenous beliefs and Spanish Catholic practices. Rather than mourning the dead in silence, families celebrate the lives of those who have passed away, believing that the spirits of the deceased return briefly to the world of the living.
Central to the celebration are ofrendas, or altars, which are carefully assembled to departed relatives. These displays typically include photographs, candles, flowers and favourite foods, each item chosen with deliberate . Marigolds, known for their strong scent and bright colour, are thought to guide spirits back to their families’ homes.
Although the festival coincides with the Catholic observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, its tone is markedly different. Death is not treated as something to be feared, but as a natural part of the human . In recent years, Día de los Muertos has gained international attention, partly due to its depiction in films and media, which have helped to awareness of its cultural significance.
Despite this growing popularity, many Mexicans are careful to the festival’s deeper meaning. What may appear to outsiders as a colourful spectacle remains, at its core, a deeply personal tradition that bonds between the living and the dead, while also long-standing beliefs about memory and respect.