Ottawa celebrates Day of the Dead

Ottawans are donning makeup and costumes for a lively celebration of a Mexican holiday honouring the dead.

Piatas, face painting, Mexican dishes, dance performances and aMariachi band are on the agenda for the colourful Day of the Dead party happening at theShenkmanArts Centre Sunday.

The Day of the Dead is anannual celebration of and tribute to people who've died,saidJosuNieto, president of the Ballet Folklrico Aztln Ottawa/Gatineaudance group, which is performing at the event.

"Everybody dresses up, everybody has makeup on their faces. And everybody walks We walk into the cemeteries where our family members who passed away," he toldCBCRadio'sAll In A Day.

They create altars, celebrate their deceased family members with food and drink, play music and dance, he added.

"We let them know that we still remember that they are still with us, in our hearts and our thoughts."

Other countries adopting colourful celebration

Celebrations have expanded outside Mexico's borders. The Day of the Dead has been featured in movies and in TV shows and other cities around the world are adopting the celebration, Nietosaid.

Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities takeplace on Nov. 1 and 2. Ottawa's own version, a family event presented byMexiCANoTV, takes placefrom 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.