El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Day, is a two-day celebration where people come together to remember their late loved ones. It’s a beautiful, colorful tradition with festivities, music and food. WTTW News asked people who they remember and honor on this Mexican holiday.

Longtime Pilsen resident Victoria Martinez shared it’s her uncle that she is honoring this year. Part of the holiday is making alters for loved ones where people add items or their loved ones’ favorite food.

“I remember him shaving a lot,” Martinez said. “So I like to put like a brush, a shave brush, and also plates and flowers for him.”

The holiday began in Mexico, where graves are filled with candles, flowers and food. It’s said on Nov. 1-2, the spirits of loved ones come back to visit.

“This year, we are celebrating my mom and my dad,” Baldo Ramirez said. “They both passed away this past year.”

As for what they loved, Ramirez laughed and said, “Coffee. They would drink coffee with everything. With breakfast and dinner. I always tell all my friends because I love to cook, one thing we love eating is spicy food with coffee.”