Experience the colourful Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead at Wereldmuseum Leiden. Families pay tribute to their deceased loved ones and celebrate their memories with flowers, music, scents and favourite dishes. Día de Muertos shows that remembering doesn’t have to be sad, but can also be a celebration of love, connection and life. At Wereldmuseum Leiden, you can decorate a sugar skull, make your own mini altar, listen to stories and remember your deceased loved ones at the altar of the dead.
A striking feature of this festival are the richly decorated skulls made of sugar or papier-mâché. In this workshop, you’ll get to work on your own sugar skull. Using colourful icing and glittering sequins, you’ll give your skull its own unique look and meaning. Learn more about this Mexican tradition in a creative way and make something personal to take home with you.
Memories are at the heart of Día de Muertos. Altars are decorated with photographs, flowers, food and personal items to commemorate deceased loved ones. In this workshop, you’ll make a mini altar inside a box. Using colour, shapes and text, you’ll decorate your own personal altar for someone you want to remember. Who will you give a place on your altar?
Listen to the story of Benito and his dog Perro. Together, we’ll explore how memories, objects and small gestures take on a special meaning during Día de Muertos. A heart-warming story about friendship, loss, and the people and animals who will always have a place in your heart.
The bright orange Cempasúchil is inseparable from Día de Muertos. But how did this flower become the symbol of the celebration? Delve into a centuries-old love story and find out why its scent and colour still hold special significance.
Listen to our museum teacher and delve into the history and meaning of Día de Muertos. From ancient traditions to colourful altars: how did this special celebration come about, and why does remembrance still play such an important role?
Pay tribute to your deceased loved ones at the altar. At Wereldmuseum Leiden, you’ll find a colourful death altar. This altar plays an important role during the Día de Muertos celebrations. Officially, this is a Catholic holiday, but the way the day is celebrated is also influenced by other traditions. For example, there are influences from the Aztec festival Miccailhuitl, during which food and drinks are placed on the graves of the deceased. This custom continues to this day. Join us and pay tribute to your deceased loved ones too.
