With its Catholic and Aztec roots, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is an important event which is celebrated annually on 1-2nd November. It comprises a beautiful series of rituals when Mexicans, in Mexico, the USA, the UK and across the worlds, happily and lovingly honour the lives of many departed ancestors. Families remember their dead, place altars in their homes and decorate tombs and attend huge street events. Altars include photos of the deceased, foods they liked, marigolds, salt, bread, sugar skulls and other elements.

An altar will be in display at Hands-on Humanities Day, along with a series of Day of the Dead workshops, interactive activities and dance. The altar will be built in early November celebrations by Southampton University's staff and Mexican students.

This year's altar will be built around the theme of the Monarch butterfly, a central Day of the Dead Aztec motif. The altar will also have paper-machie artworks on display of life-sized skeleton, monarch skeletons and skulls created by several visual and piñata artists specialising in Day of the Dead art. Creative art contributions by local families and school children and from several schools in the South of England (Hampshire and Dorset) will also be included in the display.