Residents of Tyler and nearby areas gathered downtown on Sunday evening to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The event included performances, vendors, art, face painting and more.
According to the Day of the Dead website, Nov. 2 is a national holiday in many countries and the climax of three days of celebration that include All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. The holiday is said to reunite the living and the dead. Families and individuals create ofrendas, or offerings, to honor relatives who have died. The site says these altars are decorated with yellow marigolds, photos and the favorite foods and drinks of the person being honored.
The website says the offerings are believed to encourage visits from the dead. It describes Day of the Dead as a holiday that celebrates both death and life, unlike holidays where mourning is replaced by celebration.