Dia de los Muertos may sound ominous to those unfamiliar, but this holiday recognized in Mexico, throughout Latin America, and increasingly around the US is traditionally a sweet time for families to come together to pray for and celebrate their loved ones who have died. Those who honor the traditions devoutly will build an altar and honor their deceased with popular symbols like sugar skulls and skeletons, marigolds, and the favorite foods of the loved one.

My kids and I are planning join in this year by completing these gorgeous downloadable sugar skull coloring pages and spending time learning more about the history of Dia de los Muertos together–like the fact that it is not “Mexican Halloween,” though there are some overlapping traditions.

Updated for 2023

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This instantly downloadable 21-page sugar skull coloring pages for Dia de los Muertos from Thaneeya (formerly of the Etsy shop of the same name) has some really lovely designs to celebrate this holiday on her site Art Is Fun!, and to teach your kids a little about Mexican culture while you’re at it. She’s a big fan of folk art and bright colors, and it really shows in all her work. Though in this case, of course, the colors are up to you!

Her affordable PDF includes 15 detailed skulls and multiple blank ones, plus facts about sugar skulls and more.

(If you want our recos to get coloring: We’re big fans of Crayon’s adult colored pencils for dabblers who want an affordable set, and Prismacolor’s sets of colored artist pencils for serious artists and artistic teens who will put them to good screen-free use. More of a marker artist? Prismacolor fine tipped markers come in glorious colors and hold up beautifully.)

While the kids are coloring, it’s a good time for you to stream Coco on Disney Plus, read some articles about the symbols and traditions of Day of the Dead, and maybe sip some homemade sangria if that’s your thing.

Find lots more about Dia de Los Muertos from National Geographic Kids that you can share and discuss while you create.
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