It made for a lively (and early) official state Day of the Dead celebration, or Dia de los Muertos, with candlelike lights and marigolds in the Capitol to help guide the dead back with their bright colors and scents, and some loud music, too.
According to Mexican tradition, the gates of heaven open at midnight on Oct. 31 and allow the spirits of deceased children to reunite with their families for 24 hours. Nov. 1 is All Saints Day, when adult spirits come to visit. And Nov. 2 is All Souls Day, when families decorate graves of relatives — often with their favorite foods.