Celebrating Día de Los Muertos

Discover > Business Spotlight > Celebrating Día de Los Muertos

Following the heightened excitement of Halloween, comes a holiday that is all about celebrating loved ones who are no longer with us. Día de Los Muertos falls on the 1st and 2nd of November to commemorate the deceased and traces back to Mexican indigenous customs and roots. The tradition of organizing parties for the dead dates to when the Mayans and Aztecs wrapped the dead in a petate, or a ‘woven bed’. The celebrations were believed to guide the departed through the several challenges they had to pass before reaching their final destination, the Mictlán, or the Land of the Dead.

Today, Día de Los Muertos festivities are primarily about remembering lost loved ones and honoring them with trips to cemeteries, reminiscing fond memories, and lots of good food.

To talk more about this cultural holiday, we caught up with Edna Miggins, owner of Panifico Bake Shop, a local Mexican bakery located in San Antonio. Along with her husband John, Edna loves celebrating Día de Los Muertos at the bakery with their Day of the Dead bread, Pan de Muerto, and individual and 18-inch muertito figurines, among other sweet treats. Established in 2005, this bakery was a natural turn in life for Edna, whose passion for baking was ignited by the bakers in her family: her mother and her aunt. 

Pic Credits: Pauline Stevens Photography

Remembering how she and her family celebrated the Day of the Dead, Edna says, “We would go to cemeteries with our families, to clean and decorate the graves of loved ones, spend time with them, remembering and telling stories about them. Since tradition states that this is the time spirits return home, we would bring their favorite food and drink in preparation for their return.”

Those who aren’t familiar with Día de Los Muertos must know that the holiday is not ‘Mexican Halloween’, which is a common misconception. The Day of the Dead begins at midnight on Nov. 1, when families observe Dia de Los Angelitos or Day of the Little Angels, honoring children who have passed away. Families design altars, or ofrendas, with the late child’s best-loved items—such as favorite foods, toys and photos.

The following midnight of Nov. 2, celebrations turn to adult spirits on Día de Los Difuntos or Day of the Deceased. This time, altars depict more grown-up features for departed adults, like tequila, pan de Muerto, and jars of Atole.

By noon on Nov. 2, most of the Día de los Muertos are in full swing. Families come together and have parades in their city—complete with skull-painted faces and traditional outfits. Gravesites are decorated with marigolds, gifts and sugar skulls inscribed with names of the ones being honored. It’s also common to clean the gravestone and restore its color.

Talking further about the specialties Panifico Bake Shop offers on this special holiday, Edna shared, “Traditional Pan de Muerto is a best seller on the Day of the Dead. Using a traditional recipe that calls for orange essence, the bread can be used to decorate both the altars or as a delicious treat to share with family and friends.”

“Along with Pan de Muerto, our customers enjoy other popular traditional breads like conchas or pan de huevo, empanadas, and our all-time bestseller, pink cake.

Pic Credits: Pauline Stevens Photography

Discussing how customs and traditions vary from place to place, Edna emphasized the cultural contrasts between the U.S. and Mexico in regard to death.

“People here see death as somber but, in Mexico, it’s celebrated and vibrant,” she concludes by saying, “Día de Los Muertos gives us a wonderful opportunity to share the stories of loved ones long gone with family and friends, especially children who were maybe too young to remember or perhaps didn’t even get a chance to meet. By sharing such stories, we strengthen our memories and show them the uniqueness and beauty of their family.”

You may pre-order your Pan de Muerto, and other treats for your Dia de Los Muertos celebration, along with many of their delicious pan dulce treats that Panifico offers daily through their online store. These special festive treats are available daily until November 1st and 2nd.

Are you craving meat and looking for the best BBQ in Austin? Check it out here for the best!

For the best BBQ spots in Houston, here’s a list.