The smell of burning incense drifts through Santa Monica Boulevard. The boom of distant parade drums begins to echo. Large groups of people with skeleton face paintings and floor-length gowns fill the sidewalk.
A Día de Muertos festival must be near. Last Saturday, thousands gathered at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to honor the lives of departed loved ones with show-stopping altars, lively parades and performances from musicians such as Pedro Fernandez , Los Lobos and Estevie . Many took the opportunity to dress up in elaborate Día de Muertos costumes.
Some choose to reinterpret the symbol of la Catrina , a historic image of a female calavera. Others dressed as their own versions of la Muerte. Whether a tribute to a loved one, a way to celebrate culture or an avenue for education, dressing up for Día de Muertos holds a different significance to each attendee.
Here are a few people who went above and beyond with their outfits. Five years ago, Denise Romero set out to become a makeup artist. But since then, her life has become centered on celebrating Día de Muertos all year long.
Traveling all over the state to different events, participating in photo shoots and even making costumes for others, Romero and her husband, Miguel, from Perris, have built their lives around dressing for the November holiday. Describing their garage as a Día de Muertos warehouse — filled with more than 20 different garments, props and floral headpieces — Romero sees the celebration as .
