Day of the Dead, also known as the Dia de los Muertos, is often mistakenly called the "Mexican Halloween" because of the year it's celebrated and its use of skeletons. The holiday has its roots in southern Mexico, honors the memory of departed family members, friends and even pets.

If you can’t spend Day of the Dead in Mexico, Los Angeles is where you want to be. The City of Angels has the largest Dia de los Muertos celebrations outside Mexico, with events at the Olvera Street Festival running now through November 2, and at places like LA Plaza de Cultra y Artes, which last week hosted a glamorous “chef’s table for the dead.”