Last November 1st and 2nd was "día de muertos" (1st for dead child, and 2nd for dead grown-ups) here in México, I really enjoy these festivities more than Christmas or any other one. Here it is how it works...
In my culture, my ancestors the Mexicas, had no concept of good ar evil, so there was no hell or heaven, but three places where the souls would rest:
1.- Tlalocan: as the name says, related to Tlaloc, god of the water, in this place the souls of drowned people, sacrified babies and child, and sick people would rest forever, and germinate like new seeds.
2.- Mictlán: place of people who died by natural causes, this is a very dark place, so when a man dided, he was buried with a dog, so it can lead him to the end. in this part babies had a special place, called Chichihuacuauhco in this place there's a tree with milk dripping.
3.- Omeyocán: place for the dead warriors, a place of the God hutichilopoztli, to die in war was the most honorous way of passing away, dead was always kind with the warrior.
So when the Conquerors came and replaced prehispanic religion with Christianism... the concepts of "all saints day" and prehispanic ones mixed. giving birth to "dia de muertos".
This is a very beautiful tradition here. Two days full of magic, colors, spiritual relief and lots fo yummy food hahaha.
Almost every family makes an "ofrenda" for they beloved departed ones. An "Ofrenda" is a mixture of a banquet, and resemblance of the lives of the departed. basically there are like 9 things an "ofrenda" must have: A photography of the departed one(no living people, just the departed), his/her favourite food, holy water, cempacúchitl flowers (marygolds), copal (sort of an incense), calaveritas (chocolate or sugar made skulls), veladoras (candles to light the dead's way), pan de muerto (a special bread with little bread-bones over it, and sprinkled sugar) and a lot of love (sometimes in the form of several rosaries, music, dance or family reunions). Once the feast is over, the dead will take away the essence of everything, taking it with them. Believe it or not, the food don't taste the same once the day is over, it tastes like it has less flavor or no flavor at all.
This is a joyful party, where living people celebrate with their departed ones, it remembers your place as an individual, who you are, where you come from and where are you going to.
I can't tell how much joy and peace feels once you share with your ancestors (in my case, my 4 grandparents, 2 uncles, 1 aunt, 2 cousins, and 2 friends.)I love them so much and these days let me share with them some of my life, to let them know how much I've grow, matured and achieved my goals, to know they're fine, and that dead isn't painful or horrible, just a natural step.
Corny, I know... but that's a part of my culture and how Mexican people embrace the dead, laugh and share with them.

*pictures of my "ofrenda" soon*