As Halloween costumes are packed away for another year, many places across the world are still remembering the deceased, with countries such as Mexico, Peru and Bolivia spending the early days of November paying tribute to those who have died.
A street performer wearing a devil mask spits fire in Monterrey, MexicoDaniel Becerril/ Reuters
The Day of the Dead is widely celebrated in Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, where it originated and was declared a major cultural tradition by Unesco in 2008. Fused with Catholic festivals of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the Day of the Dead is one of the most deep-rooted traditions in Mexico, celebrated by millions of people from Mayan Indians in the tropical south to urban professionals in Mexico City. Participants build elaborate altars decorated with gifts for the dead, often their favourite foods. Drawing on beliefs that the dead can return from the underworld, the celebrations begin on 1 November with the Day of the Innocents to honour departed children, and ends with the Day of the Dead on 2 November, which is for adults.
Activists with theirs faces painted to look like popular Mexican figure Catrina take part in a march against femicides during the Day of the Dead in Mexico City, MexicoEdgard Garrido/ ReutersA woman wearing a costume participates in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico CityCarlos Jasso/ ReutersCardboard skulls are seen during the exhibition and contest of altars organised by the Historic Centre Foundation in the framework of the Day of the Dead in Mexico CityYuri Cortez/ AFPFake giant skeletons placed in an altar in front of the Fine Arts Palace, in the framework of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico CityYuri Cortez/ AFP
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day or the Feast of All Saints, falls on 1 November and is celebrated by Anglicans and Roman Catholics across the globe. The holiday is to remember the saints and martyrs in Christianity and has been celebrated since the 4th century. On 2 November, All Souls' Day, Christians then move on to remember relatives and loved ones who have passed away. IBTimesUK presents some of the best photos from the holy celebrations across the world:
Revellers disguised as clowns takes part in the traditional 'Convite de fieros' festival, as part of All Saints' Day celebrations in Villa Nueva, GuatemalaJohan Ordonez/ AFPA reveller takes part in the traditional Convite de fieros festival, as part of All Saints' Day celebrations in Villa Nueva, 25 km south of Guatemala CityJohan Ordonez/ AFPRevellers disguised as drug traffickers take part in the traditional Convite de fieros festival, as part of All Saints' Day celebrations in Villa Nueva, 25 km south of Guatemala CityJohan Ordonez/ AFPVoodoo followers take part in ceremonies honouring the Haitian voodoo spirits of Baron Samdi and Gede during Day of the Dead in the National Cemetery, in Port-au-Prince, HaitiHector Retamal/ AFPA man with his face painted arrives at Dolores cemetery during All Saints' Day in Mexico CityAlfredo Estrella/ AFPGregorio Villca visits the tomb of his wife at the Llojeta cemetery on the Day of The Dead in the outskirts of La Paz, BoliviaDavid Mercado/ ReutersA family visits a relative's grave during All Saints' Day at Dolores cemetery in Mexico CityAlfredo Estrella/ AFPA relative of a member of the Shining Path terrorist group takes part in a pilgrimage at a cemetery during All Saints' Day in Lima, PeruErnesto Benavides/ AFPView of a tomb at Dolores cemetery during All Saints' Day in Mexico City, MexicoAlfredo Estrella/ AFPA woman visits a relative's grave at Dolores cemetery during All Saints' Day in Mexico City, MexicoAlfredo Estrella/ AFPA child disguised as a devil runs at Dolores cemetery during All Saints Day in Mexico CityAlfredo Estrella/ AFPStreet vendor sells candy floss as people visit tombs of relatives and friends at Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) cemetery during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Villa Maria del Triunfo on the outskirts of Lima, PeruMariana Bazo/ ReutersA man is seen nearby a grave during All Saints' Day at Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb, CroatiaAntonio Bronic/ ReutersPeople visit a cemetery to pay respects to their ancestors, on the All Saints' Day, in the northern Slovakian village of Bobrovec, SlovakiaJoe Klamar/ AFPA man climbs on a ladder to reach a tombstone at a public cemetery in Manila, PhilippinesDondi Tawatao/ Getty ImagesPeople flock to cemeteries around the country to visit departed relatives and loved ones as they mark All Saints' Day in Manila, PhilippinesDondi Tawatao/ Getty ImagesPeople light candles during All Saints' Day at Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb, CroatiaAntonio Bronic/ ReutersA child lights a candle at the Olsany cemetery to mark All Souls' Day in Prague, Czech RepublicDavid W Cerny/ Reuters
