Communities across Michigan are preparing to celebrate Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, this weekend, Nov. 1-2.

The Mexican and Latin American holiday commemorates family members who have passed, giving families and friends a chance to celebrate the lives of loved ones and reconnect with their spirits, according to Dayofthedead.holiday.

A key element of celebration is ofrendas, or altars, honoring the deceased, featuring photos and cultural and personal items memorializing the dead. This season, many Michigan cities are embracing the tradition, setting up communal ofrendas for the public to visit and contribute to items.

While Day of the Dead stems from ancient Aztec customs in Mexico and Latin America, the holiday was later shaped by Spanish settlers and evolved into it

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