While plenty of Redmond residents are out celebrating Halloween, others are preparing for another tradition on Nov. 1-2 that comes from Mexican culture. The holiday is called Day of the Dead, known in Spanish as Día de los Muertos.

The Day of the Dead is a vibrant celebration in honor of deceased family members. In the holiday’s tradition, those who have gone before return to enjoy a brief reunion with their loved ones here on earth. The tradition’s roots stretch back to ancient Aztec times but was later influenced by Catholicism after contact with the Spaniards. Festivities include music and dancing.

And food.

Many observers create altars in their homes for their deceased loved ones and cover them with candles, flowers and other earthly delights like soda, candies or anything else their loved ones enjoyed while living.

During the fall season and the Day of the Dead celebration, common foods include tamales, mole, and champurrado — a hot chocolate like beverage thickened using corn flower.

One special item is a famous Mexican baked good that only comes around this time of year: pan de muerto, or “bread of the dead” in English.

At the La Frontera Bakery in Redmond, Moises Maldonado, 33, was busy bouncing around the spacious, sweet smelling bakery preparing a variety of different traditional Mexican bakery items. Up front, customers were already loading up trays with puffy loaves of delicately prepared pan de muerto to place on their altars or enjoy themselves.

“The living eat more of it than the dead,” Maldonado said grinning as he formed strips of dough into what would eventually become scrumptious creations.

“It is a symbol,” Maldonado said. “It comes from the ancestors that taught us this beautiful tradition. And year after year we keep it going and it’s something we should never miss out on. It is something lovely. A time when many believers can look forward to this occasion to share a bite with their relatives who have left this world.”

Maldonado said the “Bread of the Dead” is similar to the more common pan dulce, or sweet bread, that is consumed year round.

“It is something similar, but the flavor and the way it is made changes a bit,” Maldonado said. “They come in many different shapes. In the shape of “muertitos” (roughly translated into English as “little dead ones”) in the shape of little angels and skulls.”

Gaby Herrera works with Maldonado at the bakery and said she has an altar for her late father. While she doesn’t place bread of the dead on his altar, she puts other things that she knows his spirit will appreciate.

“I light a candle and I put out a soda because he loved Coke,” said Gaby.

Herrera said she will typically leave her altar up for the entire month of November as a way to remember and honor her father’s spirit. She said in Mexico the holiday is celebrated vigorously with music and other festivities, and she had a bit of advice for anybody interested in learning more about the holiday’s unique aesthetic.

“Have you seen the movie “Coco?” Herrera asked. “Like that.”