The holiday celebrating Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos, has become a popular, international phenomenon. Once commemorated in only a few regions of Mexico, the festive day now reaches throughout Mexico, other Latin American countries, the United States, and regions in Europe. Are there proper Day of the Dead greetings to allow others to know you are celebrating the day?
Day of the Dead Greetings
Using local traditions and flavors of Catholicism, the unique holiday pays respect and tribute to deceased ancestors through festivals, ceremonies, and vibrant celebrations. Though there is no official greeting for the festivities, offering appropriate words announces you are celebrating the day and that remembering the dead is important to you. Several different kinds of greetings are fitting for the occasion.
In Person Day of the Dead Greetings
Whether attending a festive celebration or passing someone on the street, greetings on holidays, like "Happy Halloween," focus on the special occasion. Short announcements can provide an important introduction to Day of the Dead.
- Greetings to you on the Day of the Dead | Saludos a usted en el Día de los Muertos
- There is more time than life | Hay más tiempo que la vida
- Happy Day of the Dead | Feliz Día de los Muertos
- Good Day of the Dead | Buen Día de Muertos
- Remember when … | Recuerda cuando
Quotations to Use as Day of the Dead Greetings
Quotations are used in many venues to gain attention and spur conversation. Short comments like these may be added to festive Day of the Dead greeting cards, added altars of family members, or used to create conversation in social media outlets.
- "The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living." ("La vida de los muertos se coloca en la memoria de los vivos.") Cicero
- "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." ("A la mente bien organizada, la muerte no es más que la próxima gran aventura.") J.K. Rowling
- "Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them." ("Nuestros muertos nunca están muertos para nosotros, hasta que los hayamos olvidado.") George Eliot
- "Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there. I do not sleep." (No te quedes en mi tumba y llores. No estoy ahí. No duermo.) Mary Frye
- "We never bury the dead, son. We take them with us. It's the price of living." ("Nunca enterramos a los muertos, hijo. Los llevamos con nosotros. Es el precio de la vida.") Jose Molina and Mark Goffman, Sleepy Hollow
- "For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." ("Porque la muerte no es más que una vuelta del tiempo a la eternidad.") William Penn
- "Death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back." ("La muerte nos sonríe a todos; todo lo que un hombre puede hacer es devolver la sonrisa.") Dialogue from Gladiator
- "Death ends a life, not a relationship." ("La muerte pone fin a una vida, no a una relación.") Jack Lemmon
- "The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity." ("El día que tememos como el último no es más que el cumpleaños de la eternidad.") Seneca
- "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." ("Vivir en los corazones que dejamos atrás no es morir.") Thomas Campbell
- "Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them." ("Mira las estrellas, y mírate corriendo con ellas.") Marcus Aurelius
- "Inhale the present, exhale the past and the future." ("Inhala el presente, exhala el pasado y el futuro.") Leticia Rae
Day of the Dead Greetings in Social Media
People use social media to remember important dates and occasions. Media outlet provide a way of staying connected with friends and family, as well as making an impression on strangers. Short postings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest share the value of remembering the deceased.
- "Memories keep us alive." (Los recuerdos nos mantienen vivos.)
- "Whose life do you remember today?" (¿De quién es la vida que recuerdas hoy?)
- "Thinking of my dad today." (Pensando en mi papa hoy.)
- Calaveritas. These short poems that rhyme are written for the Day of the Dead. They can be respectfully remembering the deceased, but are often given to poke fun of the living.
Remembering the Dead
The celebration of Day of the Dead overflows with rich history and traditions. Appropriate Day of the Dead greetings allows you to connect with those who honor the day, while sharing it with others.
