Día de Muertos at the Worldmuseum in Leiden

The streets are transformed into a celebration of color, music, and symbolism. Altars are set up with flowers, candles, food, incense, and photos. Cheerfully decorated skeletons and colorful skulls serve as a reminder that death and life are interconnected.

During fall break, you can make your own papel picado and calaveras at the Worldmuseum. Papel picado are colorful garlands featuring motifs of flowers, bones, and skulls. The name means “perforated colored paper,” so they are essentially paper flags with holes punched in them. The colorful skulls and skeletons you see during Día de Muertos are called calaveras. At the Worldmuseum, you can make your own out of tin!