text: when is the day of the dead, who celebrates it and what is it?   the day of the dead (día de los muertos, día de los difuntos or día de muertos in spanish) is an ancient aztec celebration of the memory of deceased ancestors that is celebrated on november 1 (all saints' day) and november 2 (all souls' day).  the holiday is especially popular in mexico where it is a national holiday, and is celebrated in the philippines, in mexican-american communities in the united states, and to a lesser extent, in other latin american countries. it is a public holiday in brazil, where many brazilians celebrate it by visiting cemeteries and churches, bringing flowers, lighting candles and praying.  though the subject matter may be considered morbid from the anglo saxon perspective, mexicans celebrate the day of the dead joyfully, and though it occurs at the same time as halloween, all saints' day and all souls day, the traditional mood is much brighter with emphasis on celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life; the belief is not that death is the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life.  for more click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/day_of_the_dead#origins