Pátzcuaro and the surrounding lake area have one of the best-known Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.
Markets catering to Day of the Dead abound in all of Michoacán but the best of what is to be had is in the market in the main plaza of Pátzcuaro.
This is where one of the major craft competitions is held.
Day of the Dead is celebrated very intensely in the towns and villages around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Preparations include major cleaning and repair of the local cemeteries and the creation of flowered arches for gates of the atriums of local churches.
These are made with a flower called cempasúchil, also known as the Mexican marigold.
 In the early morning of November 1, the "velación de los angelitos" (wake for the little angels) to honor children who have died during the previous year.
This is generally done in the local cemeteries.
During this day also is an event called the "teruscan," in which children run around town "stealing" ears of corn, squash and chayotes from the roofs of neighbors’ houses.
 The stolen food is brought to the community center to be cooked to feed the community.

Festivities continue to midnight on November 2, which begins the "velación de los difuntos" (wake for the deceased) when again the towns gather in local cemeteries.
This time men remain outside.
Women and children enter to lay offerings of flowers and food, generally laid on embroidered napkins.
Then prayers and chants are recited.
For this reason Day of the Dead is usually referred to in Pátzcuaro as Night of the Dead.
When daylight comes, a collection of food is taken for the parish priest and most people go to mass.

A parallel event in Pátzcuaro and other towns in Michoacán is the Festival Cultural de la Muerte.
Since 1993, this event has been held to exhibit paintings, photographs, film, dance, crafts and altars that are created for this day.
 Canoeing competitions on the lake are popular here as well as "torneos de calaveras"(tournaments of skulls) which are satirical poetry contests with the theme of death and black humor.
This festival takes place from 27 October to 2 November.

Other traditional events associated with Day of the Dead here include the Concert of the Basilica of Pátzcuaro and the staging of "Don Juan Tenorio" in Erongarícuaro.
Both take place at 9 pm on 1 November.
Another interesting event is the "Juego Prehispanico de Pelota Encendida (Mesoamerican ball game –lighted) At 7 pm on 1 November  in the village of Tzintzuntzan the game is played in the old ball court, called Las Yácatas, with a ball set on fire.
It is also done in the main square of the village.

There is a legend related to the Day of the Dead here about two Tarascan nobles, the princess Mintzita and the prince Itzihuapa.
They were in love but unable to unite in part because of the arrival of the Spanish to Michoacán.
Princess Mintzita offered the Spanish the treasure that was hidden at the bottom of Lake Patzcuaro for the release of her father.
Itzihuapa himself offered to go and get it, but when he did, he was captured by the twenty ghosts that guard treasure, becoming the 21st guardian.
This broke Mintzita's heart.
However, this occurred on the night that these guardian ghosts come back to life for one night and the two lovers were able to spend time together until daylight.
Pátzcuaro and the surrounding lake area have one of the best-known Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Markets catering to Day of the Dead abound in all of Michoacán but the best of what is to be had is in the market in the main plaza of Pátzcuaro. This is where one of the major craft competitions is held. Day of the Dead is celebrated very intensely in the towns and villages around Lake Pátzcuaro. Preparations include major cleaning and repair of the local cemeteries and the creation of flowered arches for gates of the atriums of local churches. These are made with a flower called cempasúchil, also known as the Mexican marigold.  In the early morning of November 1, the "velación de los angelitos" (wake for the little angels) to honor children who have died during the previous year. This is generally done in the local cemeteries. During this day also is an event called the "teruscan," in which children run around town "stealing" ears of corn, squash and chayotes from the roofs of neighbors’ houses.  The stolen food is brought to the community center to be cooked to feed the community.
Festivities continue to midnight on November 2, which begins the "velación de los difuntos" (wake for the deceased) when again the towns gather in local cemeteries. This time men remain outside. Women and children enter to lay offerings of flowers and food, generally laid on embroidered napkins. Then prayers and chants are recited. For this reason Day of the Dead is usually referred to in Pátzcuaro as Night of the Dead. When daylight comes, a collection of food is taken for the parish priest and most people go to mass.
A parallel event in Pátzcuaro and other towns in Michoacán is the Festival Cultural de la Muerte. Since 1993, this event has been held to exhibit paintings, photographs, film, dance, crafts and altars that are created for this day.  Canoeing competitions on the lake are popular here as well as "torneos de calaveras"(tournaments of skulls) which are satirical poetry contests with the theme of death and black humor. This festival takes place from 27 October to 2 November.
Other traditional events associated with Day of the Dead here include the Concert of the Basilica of Pátzcuaro and the staging of "Don Juan Tenorio" in Erongarícuaro. Both take place at 9 pm on 1 November. Another interesting event is the "Juego Prehispanico de Pelota Encendida (Mesoamerican ball game –lighted) At 7 pm on 1 November  in the village of Tzintzuntzan the game is played in the old ball court, called Las Yácatas, with a ball set on fire. It is also done in the main square of the village.
There is a legend related to the Day of the Dead here about two Tarascan nobles, the princess Mintzita and the prince Itzihuapa. They were in love but unable to unite in part because of the arrival of the Spanish to Michoacán. Princess Mintzita offered the Spanish the treasure that was hidden at the bottom of Lake Patzcuaro for the release of her father. Itzihuapa himself offered to go and get it, but when he did, he was captured by the twenty ghosts that guard treasure, becoming the 21st guardian. This broke Mintzita's heart. However, this occurred on the night that these guardian ghosts come back to life for one night and the two lovers were able to spend time together until daylight.
Pátzcuaro