Day of the Dead 2016
Day of the Dead celebrations, which have traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of departed loved ones, have turned into a spectacle, thanks in part to Hollywood.
Mexico City held its first Day of the Dead parade Saturday, October 29, 2016, complete with floats, giant skeleton marionettes, and more than 1,000 actors, dancers and acrobats in costumes.
Mexico City
Such a spectacle has never been a part of traditional Day of the Dead celebrations. The idea was born out of last year’s James Bond movie, “Spectre.” In the film, whose opening scenes were shot in Mexico City, Bond chases a villain through crowds of revelers in what resembled a parade of people in skeleton outfits and floats.
Pictured: A woman with her face painted as a skull, or “Catrina,’ modeled on a satirical 19th century Mexican engraving of a skeleton in a fancy dress and hat.
Mexico City
“When this movie hit the big screen and was seen by millions and millions of people in 67 countries, that started to create expectations that we would have something,” said Lourdes Berho, CEO of the government’s Mexico Tourism Board. “We knew that this was going to generate a desire on the part of people here, among Mexicans and among tourists, to come and participate in a celebration, a big parade.”
Mexico City
People wearing masks participate in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
A woman with her face painted as Catrina participates in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
Participants wearing costumes participate in the “Day of the Dead” parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
People wearing masks participate in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
The government board sponsoring the march called it part of “a new, multi-faceted campaign to bring tourists to Mexico during the annual Day of the Dead holiday.”
Mexico City
Women wearing costumes participate in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. Tens of thousands turned out to watch the procession, which included routines like a phalanx of Aztec warriors with large headdresses doing tricks on rollerblade skates.
Mexico City
A man dressed and painted in a pre-Columbian attire waits for the start of a Day of the Dead parade to begin along Mexico City’s main Reforma Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.
Mexico City
A man in costume takes a selfie during a Day of the Dead parade along Mexico City’s main Reforma Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.
Mexico City
Participants wearing costumes participate in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, Mexico October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
People participate in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
People participate in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
Men with their faces painted as skulls participate in the “Day of the Dead” parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
Participants wearing costumes participate in the “Day of the Dead” parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
A man with his face painted participates in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
People wearing masks participate in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
People wearing masks participate in the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016.
Mexico City
People wearing masks stand next to an altar during a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016.
Mexico City
People wear skeleton masks during a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016.
Mexico City
A woman wears a skeleton mask during a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016.
Merida, Mexico
Residents with painted faces and holding candles participate in El Paseo de Las Almas, The Walk of Souls, during a Day of the Dead festival in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico on October 28, 2016.
The Day of the Dead in the Mayan area is called “Hanal Pixan” in Castilian, meaning food of souls and participants start the parade at the cemetery and walk along the streets with painted faces.
Merida, Mexico
Residents with painted faces and holding candles participate in El Paseo de Las Almas, The Walk of Souls, during a Day of the Dead festival in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico on October 28, 2016.
Merida, Mexico
Residents with painted faces and holding candles participate in El Paseo de Las Almas, The Walk of Souls, during a Day of the Dead festival in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico on October 28, 2016.
California
People in costume parade during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016. The Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States.
California
A family in costume gets their portrait taken during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016.
California
People in costume parade during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016.
California
A woman dressed in a skeleton costume parades during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016.
Haiti
A devotee pretending to be the spirit known as a Gede smiles during a ceremony honoring the Haitian voodoo spirits of Baron Samdi and Gede on the Day of the Dead in the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on November 1, 2016, during which voodoo believers and devotees offer candles, alcohol and food.
Guatemala
A girl adorns the grave of relatives at the municipal cemetery of Villa Nueva, 25 kilometers south of Guatemala City, during All Saints’ Day on November 1, 2016.
Guatemala
Musicians sing at the municipal cemetery of Villa Nueva, 25 kilometers south of Guatemala City, during All Saints’ Day on November 1, 2016.
Ivory Coast
A florist sells flowers in Abidjan on November 1, 2016, during the All Saints’ Day.
France
People pay their respects in front of the grave of Spanish poet Antonio Machado on November 1, 2016 in a cemetery in Collioure, southwestern France, during All Saints’ Day, which is marked as a feast day celebrated on November 1 by Anglicans and Roman Catholics worldwide.
India
An Indian Catholic devotee offers prayers on All Saints’ Day at the Saint Sebastian Chapel in Hyderabad on November 1, 2016.
Mexico City
A general view on October 31, 2016 showing altars decorating Mexico City’s Zocalo Square as Mexicans honor their deceased loved ones in the three-day Day of the Dead festivities.
Mexico City
Cardboard skulls are seen during the exhibition and contest of altars organized by the Historic Centre Foundation in the framework of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City on November 1, 2016.
Mexico City
A man dressed as Death takes a selfie while attending the exhibition and contest of altars organized by the Historic Centre Foundation in the framework of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City on November 1, 2016.
Philippines
Millions of Filipinos flock to cemeteries around the country to visit departed relatives and loved ones as they mark All Saints’ Day on November 1, 2016 in Manila, Philippines. In the Philippines, family members mark the Day of the Dead by cleaning tombs, often spending the night at the cemetery eating and celebrating with loved ones.
Philippines
A girl checks her phone inside a cramped public cemetery on November 1, 2016 in Manila, Philippines, as Filipinos flock to cemeteries around the country to visit departed relatives and loved ones to remember All Saints’ Day.
Philippines
Children play near the apartment-like tombs at the Navotas Public Cemetery, north of Manila on October 30, 2016, days ahead of the traditional All Souls’ Day. Millions across the Philippines will visit cemeteries to pay their respects to their dead, in an annual tradition that combines Catholic religious rites with the country’s penchant for festivity.
Philippines
A skull is seen at the Navotas Public Cemetery, north of Manila on October 30, 2016, days ahead of the traditional All Souls’ Day.
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan. The Associated Press contributed to this report.