Day of the Dead

The Peabody Museum and the Consulate General of Mexico in Boston will host a celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Nov. 2 at the museum. A unique blend of Mesoamerican and Christian rituals, the holiday for remembering and celebrating the dead is separated into All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1), which is usually dedicated to children, and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), which is dedicated to adults. The free event will feature a puppet performance, a special altar installation, music, and traditional Day of the Dead refreshments.

Puppet troupe ImaginArte of Mexico City will perform “Mictlan” – a play based on the Aztec story of how the god Quetzalcoatl journeyed to the underworld (Mictlan) – at 5:30 p.m. in the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford St. Seating is limited. After the performance, a temporary altar installation will be on display (through November) in the Peabody’s Mesoamerican Galleries. Also on hand will be live music, Mexican food, and traditional Day of the Dead refreshments including hot chocolate and pan de muertos (bread of the dead).