Celebration of Life and Death

The sweet scent of marigolds and roses mixes with the still November air at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange. People here and in cemeteries elsewhere are kneeling over graves and standing in silence as they honor the dead.

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is an ancient celebration rooted in the culture of Mexico. It is a celebration of life in which altars and decorations--including photos, toys, flowers and crosses--are placed on graves of loved ones.

The day bridges two Catholic observances, All Saints Day, Nov. 1, honoring children who have died, and All Souls Day, Nov. 2, remembering all who have died.

Observance of Dia de los Muertos has grown more popular in Orange County over the years and now includes a weeklong series of church services, parties, street festivals and art exhibits. In art and dance and costumes, it depicts skeletons of rich and poor laughing together in death. While a solemn observance for many, it is also a opportunity to revel in the cycle of life.