We know most people love Halloween, and we do too. But here at the Teen Blog, there's another international Fall holiday that we like to celebrate-- Día De Los Muertos!
Also commonly known as the Day of the Dead, Día De Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday occurring on November 1st and 2nd that celebrates the memories of departed loved ones and commemorates the lives they lived rather than mourning them. A common belief on Día De Los Muertos is that the dead are never truly dead until they are forgotten and that they live on in stories and memories.
One of the most important parts of this holiday are Ofrendas, tables decorated with bright cloth and filled with photographs of the deceased and offerings such as their favorite foods or other mementos they enjoyed in life. These ofrendas are often also filled with candles and Mexican Marigolds, which are said to attract the deceased and guide their souls to the land of the living so they can celebrate with their loved ones. Vibrant parades and festivals are another large part of the Día De Los Muertos festivities.
Here are two fun facts you might not know about Día De Los Muertos!
- "Sugar Skulls" are actually known as Calaveras, which translate to skull. The sugar part of the word comes from sugar candy versions of the symbol. Detailed face painting and skull makeup is also a common part of the holiday.
- Día De Los Muertos is actually celebrated in three different parts-- Día De Los Angelitos, dedicated to celebrating spirits of infants and children; Día De Los Difuntos, which celebrates adult spirits; and Día De Los Muertos, which celebrates all dead spirits.
We love talking about Día De Los Muertos, but we love reading about it even more! Here are some of our favorite Latinx fantasies that feature Día De Los Muertos or remind us of the holiday.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
With a plot and magic system both centered around Día De Los Muertos, Cemetery Boys is a great choice for readers who want to get into the spirit of the holiday. One part ghost story, one part romance, and 100% a celebration of Latinx culture, this is the story of a young brujo (witch or magic user) trying to summon his dead cousin and prove himself to his family. Instead he summons the ghost of his school's former bad boy... who he can't help but like more than he should!
Bonus: Including gay, trans, and Latinx representation, Thomas does a great job of making this an urban fantasy that is as diverse as it is engaging.
Lobizona by Romina Garber
If you enjoy werewolf stories, this is the book for you! Directly inspired by Argentine folklore, Manu is the seventh consecutive daughter of her family, which should make her a bruja. Instead, it turns her into a werewolf. But that's not all! Manu is an undocumented immigrant, and her mother has just been arrested by ICE. Caught between two worlds, Lobizona takes both Manu and readers on a journey to discover who she truly is and where she belongs.
Bonus: This YA fantasy pairs magical realis with racism and more to make it an intense and thought-provoking read.
Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Combine dark forces, mysterious forgotten magic, and queer romance and what do you get? A great read, that's what! On the surface Lucha of the Night Forest is a magical adventure as our main character Lucha struggles to learn how to control a forest magic she knows little about. But what really drew our attention was the themes of sisterhood and complex family bonds present within the story. If you want a complex fantasy with a lush magical forest, try this one!
Bonus: A dangerous drug called the Forgetting Drug adds a layer of dystopia to this fantasy that helps it stand out amongst others on this list.
Season of the Bruja by Aaron Duran
This beautiful graphic novel focuses on Athalia, one of the last bruja-- guardians of both magic and knowledge passed down through generations. When her Abuela is killed by a dangerous organization that wants to take out brujas for good, Athalia knows it is up to her to keep their legacy alive. Although it doesn't mention Día De Los Muertos directly, with strong themes of both blood family and found family Season of the Bruja embraces the spirit of the holiday.
Bonus: From a Chupacabra to a Were-Coyote, Duran's side characters are a delightful addition to the magical world of this graphic novel.
Till the Last Beat of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes
Death is a normal part of Jaxon's life-- growing up in a funeral home tends to do that to a person. But Jaxon has a secret-- he's a necromancer! When he accidentally brings his estranged friend/first crush back to life, he has to manage conflicted emotions while navigating his powers enough to keep his reanimated crush alive. In a life surrounded by death, Till the Last Beat of My Heart perfectly mirrors the intertwining of life and death that Día De Los Muertos is known for.
Bonus: Gay, Black, and Dominican characters make this book a great coming of age story for Queer and Latinx readers.