Before the Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos begins, Oct. 27 is set aside for the spirits of beloved pets—dogs, cats, birds, and other animals—to make their way home.
The tradition, rooted in Día de los Muertos, reflects a growing desire to honor not only human relatives but also the animals that shared daily life. In many homes, the altars glow with marigolds and candles, surrounded by toys, collars, and favorite treats. Some families add photos, tufts of fur, or even paw prints—tokens that bridge the distance between the living and the lost.
According to belief, these spirits arrive days before the main Day of the Dead observance on Nov. 1 and 2, when families gather to celebrate ancestors. The pets come first, padding softly home through the candlelight.
The practice draws on Mexico’s pre-Columbian traditions, in which dogs were seen as sacred guides through the afterlife—especially the Xoloitzcuintle, or Xolo, revered for leading souls safely across the spirit world.
For many participants, these pet ofrendas offer a gentle way to grieve and reconnect. They transform loss into love, reminding people that the animals who once greeted them at the door or slept at their feet remain part of the family’s story.
Tonight, the candles burn brightest for them—the loyal companions who return, if only for a moment, to find their way home again.
Once a celebration largely unknown outside of Mexico, Día de los Muertos has gone mainstream in the United States, thanks, in part, to movies such as [Pixar’s 2017] “Coco” which made people more familiar with the holiday.
Source: Phila Inquirer, Rutgers University
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