Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Celebrates Day of The Dead, Dia de Los Muertos. Also, What Happens When you Experience Your Own Day of The Dead in Puerto Vallarta? Death, Burials and Ashes Scattering in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.   Listen To The Podcast Subscribe On iTunes & Leave a Good Review Subscribe on Android With Spreaker Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico. That music you were just listing to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, The El Dorado Restaurant, and at night for dinner The El Dorado transforms into the ever so romantic Vista Grill with those dramatic views of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors. Of course, at La Palapa you can enjoy that same view of the Los Muertos Pier all day long for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so Puerto Vallarta my friends! [caption id="attachment_195" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta Mexico[/caption]   History of Dia De Los Muertos This week I have a show all about Día de Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta. So, Happy Halloween on this 31st of October 2017. What is The Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos observance all about anyway? Let’s have a look at the history and the meaning of this holiday, shall we? The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico developed from pre-Columbian times and cultures. They had rituals celebrating the deaths of [caption id="attachment_1840" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Dia de Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico[/caption] ancestors, observed by these civilizations for perhaps as long as 2,500–3,000 years. The festival that developed into the modern Day of the Dead originally fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess known as the "Lady of the Dead", corresponding to the modern La Calavera Catrina. Or Elegant Skull or Skeleton. Of course, the Catholic Spaniards couldn’t kill the tradition, but did manage to move the date to correspond with All Saint’s Day, so they put up with the pagan activities of the indigenous Mexicans for a change of date. Clever. [caption id="attachment_1851" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Dia de Los Muertos Was Moved From August to November 1st[/caption] By the late 20th century in most regions of Mexico, practices had developed to honor dead children and infants on November 1, and to honor deceased adults on November 2. November 1 is generally referred to as Día de los Inocentes translated it means “Day of the Innocents" but also as Día de los Angelitos or “Day of the Little Angels", November 2 is referred to as Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos  in other words, "Day of the Dead". So what goes on during the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations? Well, Mexicans often build alters in their homes to honor their loved ones passed. They invite the dead to join the family once again by offering their favorite foods, drink, clothing, that they loved when they were alive. Stuff like that. These alters are often constructed in homes or back and front yards, or at the cemetery. What You Need to Build Your Own Alter: A table, shelf or flat surface on which to build your altar Two long sugar cane stalks (or other material) to make an arch Boxes or crates to create different levels A tablecloth and papel picado A photo of the person to whom the altar is dedicated A glass of water Flowers, preferably marigolds Fruit, bread, and other foods Candles and incense Things that the person you're honoring enjoyed in life Cemeteries in and Around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico [caption id="attachment_1919" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Map of Ceme