Día de los Muertos originated thousands of years ago in Mexico as an indigenous ritual to honor the dead. Today, it is widely celebrated throughout North and South America and is seen as both a cultural and religious holiday. While the tradition of honoring the dead through pictures, food and music is noted by some as an expression of the Catholic belief in an afterlife, others choose not to observe the day's apparent religious connection because the holiday lacks Christian roots.
Reporter: Noelle Medina