We infinitely thank Saint Isidor Labourer for granting us a miracle of a good crop of marigold flowers, so we could sell them outside the cemeteries at this period of the Day of the Dead.

Cleotilde and Nicolasa Castillo
Atlixco, Puebla, 1955

November, Day of the Dead, a unrested ghost appeared to me. I immediately sobered up and prayed Saint Michael whom I thank now for protecting me so I can escape this danger.

Lucas Perez
Cholula, 1917

Day of the Dead, the Martinez brothers, Bartolo, Tiburcio and Joaquin, came home and got frightened because an unrested soul appeared to them. The brothers thank the Holy Child of Atocha for the short didn’t hurt them.

Uruapan, 1915

Holy Child of the Virgin of Help, thank you for helping me out that night, on November 1. I didn’t make an altar for all the faithful departed. When I went to sleep the Death himself dressed as Catrina visited me. I pretended to be asleep and prayed to you, divine Child, until the Death was gone.

Yucatan, Mexico, 1932

November 2, Basilio and Eladio Perez went to the cemetery to drink and met one mister who sat on a grave. He wanted to give them a chest full of gold so they would keep enjoying their sin, but suddenly the brothers realized it was a skeleton who spoke with them. They thank Saint James the Apostle for they managed to escape safe and sound. They promise to cut down on booze and respect the dead.

Oaxaca, 1950

November 2, Day of the Dead, my buddy’s ghost came to the bar and wanted to pass some shots with me. I got scared and wanted to run away, but he pushed me down and broke my hand. I thank the Holy Child of Atocha for I didn’t kick the bucket.

Susano Camayo, Tlaxcala, 1920

When my husband died I felt devastated. I prayed the Virgin of Guadalupe to let me see my husband one more time. On the Day of the Dead, I was making my husband’s altar and suddenly I saw a ghost. At first, I was terribly frightened but then I felt happy of seeing my husband. Although it lasted few seconds and his figure wasn’t very clear, I’m infinitely grateful.

With this humble retablo, I thank the Holy Child of Atocha for protecting me on every November 2. This night my bar is filled with the souls of the dead from the village. They come very happy to celebrate their holiday with a lot of music and mezcal.

Ramiro Dominguez \ Zacatecas, Mexico

With this humble retablo, I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus because in Hollywood they created this movie “Coco” in which they show the beautiful and colorful Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead. And it’s absolutely fair that it won the Oscar for the best animated picture.

My wife decorated the house for the Day of the Dead, and according to her it was so beautiful that she wouldn’t remove the decorations. I was scared and disturbed feeling that the dead were watching me the whole time. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe because I was not even able to read my newspaper peacefully. The Virgin helped me, and for Christmas my wife decided to change the decoration. And I truly don’t care if she wants to leave the nativity and the Christmas tree for the whole year.

The Day of the Dead, we went to see the altars made in the town for the dead. When we passing near by the cemetery wall we noticed a very elegant couple. When we get closer we saw in the lantern light that they were nicely dressed skeletons. We were so frightened, we got sick of fear. We thank the Holy Virgin for curing us.

On his day, I prepare for my late husband Ramiro his favorite dish. Thanks.

The dead live and enjoy their holiday. Thanks to the Virgin.