Day of the Dead for pets

October 27: the night pets come home

In Mexico, many families believe that pets who have passed away return home on the night of October 27, a few days before Día de Muertos. Families set up a small ofrenda with the pet’s photo, water, food and marigolds to welcome them. It is a popular custom, not an official date, and it has grown quickly in recent years.

Where the October 27 custom comes from

Día de Muertos itself is centuries old and is recognized by UNESCO. The pet day is much newer: around 2018–2019 it was proposed in Mexico and quickly spread through news stories and social media.

Today it is shared by families across Mexico and Latin America, and by many Latino families in the United States. On TikTok, people post their pets with the words “It’s their first Día de Muertos.”

The Día de Muertos calendar

  • October 27 — pets arrive at night.
  • October 28 — by popular belief, they leave the next morning.
  • November 1 — Día de los Angelitos, for children.
  • November 2 — the main Día de Muertos, for adults.

What to put on a pet ofrenda

  • Their photo, in the center.
  • A bowl of water — the journey is long.
  • Their favorite food or treats.
  • A toy, their collar or their blanket.
  • Cempasúchil (marigold) flowers or petals to guide the way.
  • Candles to light the path, and papel picado if you like.

How to set it up, step by step

  1. 1

    Choose a small table or shelf, or a corner of the family ofrenda.

  2. 2

    Place their photo in the middle.

  3. 3

    Add water, food and one thing they loved.

  4. 4

    Make a short path of marigold petals leading to the ofrenda.

  5. 5

    Light the candles on the evening of October 27.

Watch them walk the marigold path home

Make their video

Questions

Is October 27 an official holiday?

No. It is a popular custom that grew in recent years. Each family celebrates it in its own way.

My pet died this month. Do they come this year?

Many families include them the same year — that is why people say “it’s their first Día de Muertos.”

Can I put my pet on the family ofrenda?

Yes. Many homes add the pet’s photo to the family ofrenda instead of making a separate one.

Can I do this outside Mexico?

Yes. Families in the US and around the world set up pet ofrendas too.

Guides

Day of the Dead dog video→Day of the Dead cat video→Rainbow Bridge pet video→