Celebrating Dia de los Muertos at Work

How to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at Work

Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday, traditionally celebrated November 1st and 2nd, that honors departed loved ones. With colorful decorations, good food, and parades, Day of the Dead celebrates both death and life, eschewing somber mourning for fun celebration.

However, despite the glam and glitter of popular Day of the Dead depictions, it’s still an intimate tradition for individuals and families. So how can you celebrate Day of the Dead at work in a respectful, educational, and fun way? Here are some ideas.

All the Decorations

No Dia de los Muertos celebration is complete without colorful skulls and streamers, candles, and marigold flowers. Create a festive vibe in the office by decorating with these items, and remember, Day of the Dead is not Halloween—stray away from bats, spiders, or pumpkins.

Craft Stations and Activities

Let employees try their hands at some traditional Day of the Dead crafts:

• Make and decorate their own sugar skulls (or simply decorate a skull-shaped cookie)
• Bake pan de muerto, or bread of the dead
• Craft their own papel picado, colorful banners to hang around the office
• Get their face painted

At these craft stations, have posters that explain each item's significance for the holiday. This way everyone has fun and learns a little more about the history of Dia de los Muertos.

Dia de los Muertos Trivia

Did you know that Dia de los Muertos was created thousands of years ago in ancient Mesoamerica? Or that cleaning the graves of loved ones is an important part of the celebration? Or that marigolds are used because they’re believed to guide the spirits back to their homes?

Dia de los Muertos has a long and fascinating history that many employees may not know about. A trivia activity with themed prizes can build awareness and be a lot of fun!

Buffet With Traditional Mexican Food

Free food is always popular at work, and for Dia de los Muertos, hiring an authentic Mexican restaurant to provide a buffet of traditional foods is a great idea. Dishes like tamales, mole, and pozole are always crowd-pleasers—and don’t forget the horchata! 

Movie Night

Give your employees a break from work while they watch a Day of the Dead movie. Coco and The Book of Life are two great options for the workplace.

Celebrate Life Together

Day of the Dead may be centered around the dead, but its main focus is on celebrating life. Make the lives of your employees a little more fun this year with a Dia de los Muertos celebration that builds awareness and lets everyone have fun.