What is the Day of the Dead?

TL;DR:

The Day of the Dead mixes Catholic and Indigenous traditions about deceased loved ones, but many practices—like praying to or communicating with the dead—contradict Scripture. Christians can honor loved ones without engaging in unbiblical rituals, focusing instead on Christ, the living, and sharing the gospel..

what does the bible say?

The Day of the Dead is a holiday rooted in a mix of Catholic and Indigenous traditions that honors deceased loved ones, but many of its practices, such as praying to the dead or inviting spiritual interaction, contradict biblical teaching. Scripture makes clear that when a person dies, their eternal destiny—heaven or hell—is already set, and inquiring of the dead is sinful (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). The holiday also blends pagan rituals with Christian practices, which Scripture warns against (Deuteronomy 7:1-5; Romans 12:2). Believers, however, have direct access to God through Jesus and do not need to pray to the dead, since Christ’s resurrection removed the barrier between humanity and God (John 14:13-14; 1 Timothy 2:5). While it is natural to grieve and remember loved ones, Christians are called to focus on Christ, share His light, and glorify God through their lives (Matthew 5:14-16). The cultural origins of the Day of the Dead include Spanish Catholic and Aztec influences, combining practices like altars, offerings, and decorations that reflect beliefs about the afterlife. Ultimately, Christians should honor memories without engaging in unbiblical rituals and use the reality of death and eternity as motivation to share the gospel with the living.

from the old testament

According to the Bible, when we die our physical bodies begin to disintegrate and eventually return to dust, from which Adam was originally created (Genesis 3:19). The souls of believers are in the presence of God in heaven. The souls of unbelievers are suffering in hell, eternally separated from God’s goodness and grace. Both the souls of the believers and the unbelievers wait for the day when their bodies will be resurrected and there will be final judgment.
Throughout the Old Testament God commands the Israelites to not intermix with other cultures (Deuteronomy 7:1-5). He warns them that accepting these other cultures' way of life will lead to worshiping other gods and participating in their sins. While we are not the Israelites, we should avoid cultural practices that go against the Bible.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says, “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord."
Inquiring of the dead is sinful, and the practices surrounding the Day of the Dead come far too close (if not successfully) in doing so.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 makes it clear there is nothing left “under the sun” for the deceased after they have passed away. Praying to supposed spirits of the dead is unfruitful since “in between” places like Purgatory do not exist. Such prayers won’t change our loved ones’ eternal destiny and may even open a door to demonic activity in our life.

from the new testament

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says to His disciples: “"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” We can take after the example of the disciples and spread Jesus’ light in this world instead of engaging in practices that encourage deception and sin.
Believers should not participate in holidays centered on the false doctrine of Purgatory.The Bible teaches that those who are covered by the blood of Jesus will enter into an eternity with God and those who were unrepentant will enter into an eternity in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46; Romans 6:23).
In the New Testament, Paul urges believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). During the Spanish colonization of the New World they combined pagan and Catholic traditions to ease the conversion of the indigenous people to Christianity. In doing so, they inadvertently acquired pagan practices as well. Day of the Dead contradicts the Bible in that it promotes mixing pagan and Christian beliefs, which leads to deception and sin.
The New Testament indicates that believers have direct access to God through faith in Christ; no human intercession on their behalf is needed (1 Timothy 2:5). The dead are not worthy to be prayed to and don’t have the power nor wisdom to answer our prayers. Jesus' resurrection removed the barrier between humanity and God. We can pray directly to God knowing He will fulfill our needs.

implications for today

The Day of the Dead is a celebration honoring and remembering those who have died. While it originated in Mexico, its influence is spreading both within spiritual and secular communities alike. Deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and trending in pop culture, the holiday attracts a wide audience. Yet despite its seemingly Christian roots, Day of the Dead is unbiblical.

Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico and in many other parts of Central and North America. On November 1st, All Saints Day, people remember the saints and children who have died, and on November 2nd, All Souls Day, everyone else is remembered. It is believed that the souls of the dead come back to visit, so families decorate the tombs of the deceased with candles and flowers. They also build altars in their houses with family members' photos, favorite foods, and earthly possessions. They paint their faces to scare away evil spirits, but overall, it is a happy celebration to remember a person's life.

The Day of the Dead was birthed from a mix of the Spanish and Aztec cultures when Spain colonized what is now Mexico. Spain is predominantly Catholic and celebrates All Saints Day on November 1st to remember all the Catholics who have died and are in heaven, especially those who are considered saints. November 2nd, All Souls Day, is to remember and pray for all those who have died and did not go to heaven. Interestingly, many pagan holidays concerning spirits coincide with these dates. The Catholic Church has a practice of building Catholic traditions over preexisting pagan traditions to help transition those cultures from paganism to Christianity. Aztec culture believed that when a person died, they went to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead, and had to travel through nine difficult levels to get to their final resting place. In August, people would remember their loved ones who had died by leaving out items like food and supplies they might need for the afterlife journey. The combination of these two belief systems formed into the Day of the Dead we know today.

Many people, including believers, are being deceived by Day of the Dead. It is certainly good to honor the memories of loved ones who have passed away. However, we must not to participate in activities that idolize the dead or replicate pagan rituals. By setting ourselves apart from culture, we embody the transformation Jesus is working within us and become a light for those still in darkness. Ultimately, we must recognize that death results in either heaven or hell, and this should mobilize us to share the truth of the gospel while people are still living so that they may find salvation.

understand

Day of the Dead mixes Catholic and Indigenous traditions, but many practices contradict Scripture.
The dead’s eternal destiny is fixed, and this should motivate us to share the truth of the gospel while people are still living.
Honoring loved ones is fine, but Christians should avoid pagan rituals to celebrate them.

reflect

How do you honor loved ones who have passed, and how do your practices align with Scripture?
When you see cultural traditions like Day of the Dead, how do you discern between honoring memories and engaging in unbiblical practices?
How can you focus on sharing Christ’s light with the living while still remembering those who have died?

engage

How does the Bible’s teaching on the fixed eternal destiny of the dead challenge popular cultural practices like Day of the Dead?
In what ways can believers respectfully remember deceased loved ones without blending in pagan or unbiblical rituals?
How can understanding the history and influences of the Day of the Dead help us engage thoughtfully with culture while staying faithful to God and His Word?