Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos) is an important part of Mexican culture. A two-day celebration of life and death, Day of the Dead is not a version of how we typically think of Halloween--it is a cultural tradition to honor lost family members. Death is perceived as a natural phase of life in Mexico, and those who have passed on are remembered in spirit and memory. It is believed that during Dia de los Muertos, the spirits of the dead return to earth temporarily.