Day of the Dead: Mexicans honor loved ones who have passed away

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03:13

Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations are underway. It honors those who've passed, by remembering how they lived. CGTN's Alasdair Baverstock visited a town north of Mexico City to see how people there celebrate in their own special way.

Two years ago, Bertha Sanchez's son Javier was killed in an explosion at work. The loss of her child was heartbreaking, a tragedy she says she'll never get over.

BERTHA SANCHEZ TULTEPEC RESIDENT "It was very painful mostly for me, for his father, his family. The pain is terrible, and the pain never stops. When you lose a child, there are no words that can comfort you."

But now, once a year, arm in arm with fellow townspeople in her village north of Mexico City, she spends an evening remembering her son. This is Tultepec in Central Mexico, where the town's Day of the Dead celebrations begin with a torch-lit march through the town, guiding the way home for the departed souls of those who died too young.

BERTHA SANCHEZ TULTEPEC RESIDENT "We are going to the procession to light a candle. We will light his way home so he can be with us."

While Day of the Dead traditions trace back thousands of years, this local custom dates back to 1874, started by Fausto Urban's great-grandmother. He leads the procession today.

FAUSTO URBAN PROCESSION ORGANIZER "The feeling today is one of happiness, reminiscence and sadness, but not tragedy, because we feel that they are with us. We remember the children as we accompany them around the town. They are marching alongside us."

Nearly two thousand Tultepec residents and visitors turned out on Wednesday evening to take part in the procession, which marks the start of the town's Day of the Dead celebrations.

ALASDAIR BAVERSTOCK TULTEPEC, MEXICO "Mexico's Day of the Dead is an ancient custom, celebrated across the country. People here believe this is a time their departed loved ones come back to visit, so they bring offerings of the things they enjoyed in life to their graves, and fondly relive happy times spent together."

Juanita Zuniga is a local historian, and says the tradition is important to the town.

JUANITA ZUNIGA TULTEPEC HISTORIAN "This is one of the most genuine festivities that is conserved here in Tultepec. That's because the family that organizes it has ensured that everything goes according to the tradition. The way their ancestors started it, is the way they continue doing it."

As Tultepec's Day of the Dead celebrations get underway, thoughts of the town's lost young people will be with them throughout. It's a ceremony that shares the burden of grief, and helps the community look to the future. Alasdair Baverstock, CGTN, Tultepec, Mexico.