SEATTLE, Wash. – On Friday, Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, communities come together to honor deceased loved ones. Deeply rooted in Mexican culture, Día de Muertos is a celebration of life and death and invites reflection through memories and traditions.

Now more than ever, sitting at the table is more than just enjoying a meal or a cup of coffee; it’s about honoring grandparents, aunts, parents and siblings.

Black Arrows Coffee, located in Belltown, welcomes visitors with brightly colored papel picado, traditional paper banners with intricate designs depicting the wind. There’s also the appeal of its warm, citrus scent pan de muertoa signature bread of Día de Muertos.

“The orange zest is what I like most about pan de muerto, along with the airy texture,” says Nikole Zamudio. She and her husband, Daniel, co-own the corner coffee shop, whose house-made Mexican mocha syrup is a nod to her heritage.

Día de Muertos is more than a cultural event for Daniel and Nikole; it’s an opportunity to introduce customers to flavors that resonate with their roots.

“It’s part of remembering who that family member was and what they loved, and then you tell stories about that,” Daniel said. “It’s a good time to remember who our family was.”

Pan de muerto is a staple of Día de Muertos’ ofrendas And altars – sacrifices and altars in honor of loved ones. These altars are filled with everything they ever enjoyed conchas and others pan boring, to playing cards, favorite beers and treasured objects from their lives.

It is believed that Día de los Muertos is the only night of the year when the spirits of our deceased loved ones can visit the living. Altares usually has different levels representing heaven, purgatory and earth. Each level is decorated with photos and memories of loved ones.

Meanwhile, Angelica Villaseñor, owner of D’ La Santa on Capitol Hill, honors her there are questionsor loved ones, by cooking their favorite meals. Angelica grew up in Guadalajara and remembers her father as her “first love,” a memory she honors through her restaurant.

“When he passed away, I now understand Día de los Muertos. It’s so beautiful,” Angelica said. “Now I understand the meaning of the dead.”

This year she transformed their ‘tree of life’ into one ofrenda—an altar where traditional marigolds, known as cempasuchilguide spirits to visit the living.

“This tradition is one of the most important for me,” Angelica said, emphasizing that the aromas and sazonor herbs, bring back memories of family gatherings. “Food means family, tradition and love,” Angelica said.

It is believed that Día de Muertos is a time when the spirits of loved ones can visit, if only for a night. According to tradition, an altar without a photo prevents the deceased from crossing over to reconnect with the living.

La Catrina* has become an iconic figure in Día de Muertos, decorated with bright colors and flowers. She reminds us that death is not the end, but a natural and beautiful part of life.

In the same way, calaveras de azúcaror sugar skulls, represent sweetness and the celebration of life, even in death. These colorful skulls are meant to be personalized with the names of family members to welcome their spirits.

“As long as they live in your heart, they live,” Angelica said.

“Recordar es vivir: to remember is to live,” said Daniel.

You are encouraged to participate and honor your loved ones. D’ La Santa invites you to remember them and take a photo of all the precious moments with our loved ones this holiday season during Día de Muertos.

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