Day of the Dead festival

Day of the dead Mexican woman lights a candle

A Mexican woman lights a candle to honour the dead at the tomb of a loved one during the Day of the Dead festival in Xoxocotlan, Mexico Photograph: Richard Ellis/Getty Images

Day of the dead A man lays flowers at a tomb

A man lays flowers at a tomb in Krakow, Poland Photograph: Art Widak/Demotix/Corbis

Day of the dead Children carry lanterns in Tultepec

Children carry lanterns during a procession ahead of the Day of the Dead in Tultepec, Mexico. People carrying multi-coloured lanterns walk several blocks through the town in a procession to light the way of the angels to heaven, according to organisers Photograph: Tomas Bravo/Reuters

Day of the dead Man and his dog after the Chilango Run

A man poses for a photo next his dog after taking part in the Halloween-themed 'Chilango Run' , (meaning 'I die to run'), a family marathon at the Polanco neighbourhood in Mexico City Photograph: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Day of the dead Residents carry lanterns at a procession in Tultepec

Residents carry lanterns during a procession ahead of the Day of the Dead in Tultepec Photograph: Tomas Bravo/Reuters

Day of the dead Mariachi band play at a tomb in Mexico

A Mexican woman wipes away a tear as a Mariachi band play at the tomb of a loved one on 31 October in Xoxocotlan, Mexico Photograph: Richard Ellis/Getty Images

Day of the dead: Sun sets behind a cross in Vienna

The sun sets behind a cross on a gravestone on the eve of All Saints' Day at the cemetery of Hietzing in Vienna, Austria. Catholics mark All Saints' Day on Friday by visiting cemeteries and graves of deceased relatives, friends and loved ones Photograph: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

Day of the dead People watch riders performing in Guatemala

People watch horse riders performing a dance, a day before the annual horse race which is held to commemorate All Saints' Day, at Todos Los Santos Cuchumatan village in the Huehuetenango region, west of Guatemala City on 31 October. Participants dress in traditional clothing and drink beforehand, in the annual race organised by horse riders in the region and local authorities Photograph: Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters

Day of the dead Millions of Filipinos troop to a local cemetery

Filipinos arrive en masse at the grave sites of departed loved ones in observance of All Saints' Day at the Navotas public cemetery, north of Manila, Philippines. Filipino Catholics honour and celebrate their dead on All Saints' Day by paying visits to cemeteries Photograph: Dennis M Sabangan/EPA

Day of the dead Workers paint tombstones in Manila

Workers paint tombstones for a fee during All Saint's Day in Manila. Millions across the Catholic Philippines trooped to cemeteries to honour their dead in typically festive fashion on All Saints' Day on Friday, ignoring appeals from the church to keep the day solemn Photograph: Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images

Day of the dead Missing caskets and damaged tombs in the Philippines

Missing caskets and damaged tombs are seen behind a Filipino family visiting grave sites on All Saints' Day at the Navotas public cemetery, north of Manila Photograph: Dennis M Sabangan/EPA

Day of the Dead festival – in pictures