How awesome is this MEXICAN “DAY OF THE DEAD” HALLOWEEN PARTY submitted by Nikki Wills of Tikkido!

Nikki said- “The Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican celebration, and immediately follows Halloween. It, like Halloween, features lots of skeletons and imagery of death, but it is a colorful, vibrant, and FUN celebration of life and a way to honor and remember those who have passed. Altars of photos of dead family members, their favorite foods, skeleton figurines, and colorful marigolds are built. Feasts are cooked and eaten. Music, dancing, parades, laughter–all bringing back and sharing happy memories of those we’ve lost. It’s a beautiful tradition.

At our Day of the Dead party, we served marigold tossed salad. (Did you know that marigolds are not only edible, but delicious? And absolutely gorgeous in a green salad.) We also served freshly made tortilla chips, sweet corn guacamole, shredded chicken, carnitas, and sweet corn tomalito.

Desserts are always important at our parties, too! We served Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead, a traditional Dia de los Muertos pastry), churros, conchas, tres leches trifle, pumpkin empanadas, sugar cookies (decorated as marigolds and sugar skulls), and the traditional, wildly decorated sugar skulls.

For drinks we served horchata, margaritas, mexican beers, mexican sodas, and a signature cocktail I created for this party, the Marigold Muerte. It tasted light, citrusy, and refreshing, but was sneak-up-on-you strong. I named it the “Marigold Death” for a reason!

DIY crafts/projects for this party included:
stamped “tin” napkin rings
paper placemats painted in colorful ombre stripes reminiscent of serape blankets
Glass plates embellished with papel picado style tissue paper cutouts
glowing photo candle holders/frames of those we love and wished to remember on this day.
lace-appliqued balloons
papel picado and fringe tissue banners
makeup for our Catrina (traditional female skeletal character at these celebrations)
sculpted skeletons of people and pets
the cut paper candle holders
miniature tissue paper flower decorations (for the table tents, straws, etc.)
all the food (except the tortilla chips, carnitas, conchas, and churros, which were bought at a local Latin american market)
I’m the photographer, too!

As you can tell, I love DIY affairs.”

Items used in this party that are available in Kara’s Party Ideas Shop:
 Striped Paper Straws
Mini Pedestal Cups
Chevron Paper Bags
Jute Twine
Plastic Margarita Cups
Apothecary Jars

Items used in this party that are available in Kara’s Party Ideas Shop:
 Striped Paper Straws
Mini Pedestal Cups
Chevron Paper Bags
Jute Twine
Plastic Margarita Cups
Apothecary Jars

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