Every year on November 1 and 2, families across Mexico and in Mexican communities everywhere set up altars, cook their loved ones' favorite dishes, and spend time remembering the people they've lost. More teams now mark Día de los Muertos at work too, often as a natural follow-up to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at work.
Here's what the holiday is about, how to approach it respectfully, and the traditional food that brings it all together.
What Is Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that honors family and friends who have died. November 1 is traditionally dedicated to children and November 2 to adults, though many families start preparing in the last days of October. In some communities, October 27 is set aside to remember pets.
The holiday blends Indigenous traditions with the Catholic All Saints' and All Souls' Days, and UNESCO recognizes it as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At its center is the ofrenda (also known as altar de los muertos), an altar decorated with photos, candles, papel picado (cut tissue paper banners), and bright orange cempasúchil marigolds, whose color and scent are said to guide spirits home. Families add water, salt, pan de muerto, and the foods and drinks their loved ones enjoyed most.
It lands right after Halloween, but the two have little in common. Día de los Muertos is about memory and connection, and the mood is warm rather than spooky.
How to Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Work Respectfully
A few guidelines keep a workplace celebration meaningful for the people who observe the holiday and welcoming for everyone else:
Ask the people who celebrate. Invite employees who observe Día de los Muertos, or your Latino ERG if you have one, to help shape the plan.
Keep it optional. Grief is personal.
Give it its own day. Skip the bats, spiders, and pumpkins, and avoid folding it into the Halloween party.
Leave the face paint out of costume contests. Calavera makeup has meaning for people who celebrate. If they want to wear it, let them lead.
Support local businesses. Order from Mexican-owned restaurants, panaderías (bakeries), and artisans when you can.
Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Día de los Muertos With Your Team
These ideas work for teams of any size and can fit into one afternoon or spread across the week.
1. Build a Community Ofrenda or Altar
A shared ofrenda is the heart of most workplace celebrations. Set up an altar in a common area during the last week of October and leave it up through November 2. Start with marigolds, papel picado, a glass of water, a small dish of salt, and a pan de muerto, then invite people to add photos of loved ones if they'd like. Use LED candles to stay within office fire rules, and consider including a space for employees to honor pets, too.
2. Host a Día de los Muertos Team Lunch
A shared meal fits the spirit of the holiday, since cooking for loved ones is a big part of it. Go beyond a taco bar and order traditional dishes like mole, tamales, and enchiladas from a local Mexican restaurant. Schedule the lunch near the ofrenda so people can stop by together. Corporate Catering from DoorDash for Business makes it simple to feed a group from a local favorite.
3. Set Up a Pan de Muerto and Hot Chocolate Break
In Mexico, an afternoon merienda of pan de muerto with hot chocolate is one of the simplest pleasures of the season. Bring it to the office with pan de muerto from a local panadería and a round of Mexican hot chocolate or champurrado. It's an easy option for smaller teams or tighter budgets, and placing a Group Order lets everyone add what they want from the same bakery.
4. Decorate the Office With Papel Picado and Marigolds
Strings of papel picado, real or paper marigolds, colorful calaveras (skulls), and Catrina figures turn a break room into a space that feels like the holiday. Instead of buying a party kit, set aside an hour for the team to make paper flowers or cut papel picado together.
Traditional Día de los Muertos Food to Share at Work
Food sits at the center of the ofrenda and of the family gatherings around it. These traditional Day of the Dead foods are a good place to start when you plan your menu:
Pan de muerto: A soft, sweet bread flavored with orange blossom or anise, topped with dough shaped like bones and dusted with sugar. It's on nearly every ofrenda and pairs well with coffee or hot chocolate.
Tamales: Masa filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables and steamed in corn husks or banana leaves. Families often make them together in big batches, and they travel well for an office lunch.
Mole: A rich sauce made with chiles, spices, and sometimes chocolate, usually served over chicken or enchiladas. It's a dish people save for special occasions.
Calabaza en tacha: Pumpkin simmered in piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) syrup with cinnamon. A seasonal dessert that's easy to serve in individual cups.
Champurrado, atole, and Mexican hot chocolate: Warm drinks thickened with masa or made with spiced chocolate. Any of them turns a snack break into a merienda.
Calaveras de azúcar: Sugar skulls, often decorated with names. They're more for the ofrenda than for eating, but decorating them is a fun team activity.
Remember that the ofrenda also holds whatever the person loved, which can be as simple as a favorite candy or soda. For a team lunch, include vegetarian options like rajas con queso tamales and plan individual portions so the food is easy to share.
How DoorDash for Business Makes It Easier
DoorDash for Business takes the food off your plate. Use Corporate Catering to feed the whole team from a local Mexican restaurant for your Día de los Muertos lunch (check if it's available in your city). For a smaller afternoon break, a Group Order lets everyone in the office pick their own pan de muerto or drink from the same panadería, with one delivery and one bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you celebrate Día de los Muertos at work?
Most workplaces start with a community ofrenda where employees can add photos and notes about loved ones, then add a shared meal of traditional food, a pan de muerto break, or a decorating session.
Is it okay for non-Mexicans to celebrate Day of the Dead?
Yes, when it's done with respect. Learn what the holiday means, follow the lead of those who observe it, and focus on remembering loved ones rather than treating it as a costume party.
Is it offensive to make an ofrenda if you're not Mexican?
Generally no, as long as the ofrenda is made sincerely to honor someone who has died.
What should you not do on Day of the Dead?
Avoid treating it like Halloween, using sacred symbols as costumes, or touching or moving items on someone's ofrenda. At work, don't pressure anyone to share personal stories about loss.
What food is eaten on Day of the Dead?
Pan de muerto is the most recognizable, along with tamales, mole, calabaza en tacha, and warm drinks like champurrado and hot chocolate. Families also prepare the favorite dishes of the loved ones they're honoring.
Is October 27 a Day of the Dead for pets?
In some communities, yes. October 27 has become a day to remember pets, with small ofrendas that include photos, toys, and treats.
