The Day of the Dead

Once Halloween is over in Canada, the costumes and decorations are put away for another year, and we start working through our pile of treats. For some Canadians, however—especially those with Latin roots—the celebrations are just about to begin at that point, as the first two or three days of November are marked by honouring and remembering the dead.

Perhaps the most famous Day of the Dead celebrations are held in Mexico. Celebrated from October 31 to November 2, Día de los Muerto brings Mexican families together to honour departed loved ones by visiting the cemetery, feasting and parades.

During the 2021 Census, 155,495 people reported Mexican ethnic or cultural origin, with the largest populations living in the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) of Montréal (26,260 people) and Toronto (24,165). 

The Day of the Dead in Guatemala is marked by the Festival de Barriletes Gigantes, where families fly enormous kites to honour and communicate with their departed relatives.

During the 2021 Census, 26,460 people reported Guatemalan ethnic or cultural origin, with just under one in three (31.0%) living in the CMA of Montréal. 

Haitians celebrate the Day of the Dead (Fèt Gede) by honouring the Voodoo spirit linked to death and family, featuring traditional rituals, feasting, dancing and singing to commemorate and pay respects to their departed loved ones.

In the 2021 Census, 178,990 people reported Haitian ethnic origin, with approximately four in five (79.6%) living in the CMA of Montréal.

In the Philippines, the Day of the Dead is called Undás, also known as All Souls’ Day. On this day, Filipinos visit the graves of loved ones to clean and repair tombs.

During the 2021 Census, 925,490 people reported Filipino ethnic origin, with 29.4% calling the CMA of Toronto home. 

The Day of the Dead is observed in many Southern European countries. In Italy, November 2 is All Souls’ Day and is commonly referred to as Giorno dei Morti (“Day of the Dead”). Italians honour their deceased relatives by placing flowers at cemeteries, talking to them, and lighting red candles on windowsills.

In 2021, 1.5 million Canadians reported Italian ethnic origin, with over one in four (28.8%) living in the CMA of Toronto.

Of course, no Day of the Dead celebration would be complete without a visit to a cemetery to commune with departed loved ones.

There were 627 cemeteries and crematoria businesses operating in Canada in the summer of 2026.

A huge thank you to all Canadians who responded to our 2026 Census of Population! Data on ethnocultural and religious diversity from the 2026 Census will be released on October 27, 2027.