Mexican Day of the Dead bread (pan de muertos)
Photograph by M. Mogo, 2016

Mexican Day of the Dead bread, known as Pan de Muerto' in Spanish, is a traditional sweet bread that is commonly baked and enjoyed during the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Mexico. This holiday, which takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November, is a time for families to honour and remember deceased loved ones. Pan de Muerto is typically round in shape, with a knob in the centre representing a skull (or the circle of life) with crossbones-shaped decorations radiating from it. It's sweetened with sugar and flavoured with ingredients such as anise or orange zest. The bread is sometimes decorated with powdered sugar to represent the dust of the deceased. The significance of Pan de Muerto varies across regions in Mexico, but it's commonly placed on altars alongside other offerings during Day of the Dead celebrations as a way to remember and honour the souls of the departed.