November 2 – All Souls’ Day (Día de los Fieles Difuntos) also known as  Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)

Traditional Mexican Day of the Dead (dia De Muertos) altar with sugar skulls and candles. Photo: BigStockPhoto.com / AGCuesta

The better known of the two early November holidays, Day of the Dead honors adult dead friends, relatives, and loved ones with altars (with favorite items of the loved ones), music, graveyard celebrations, food, and more. Calaveras de azúcar (small skulls made of sugar). It is not a state holiday.

Photo on right:
Traditional Mexican Catrina figurine for Mexican Day Of The Dead memorials. 
BigStockPhoto.com / AGCuesta

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)  is a holiday in which Mexicans remember and honor their deceased loved ones. Though it may sound gloomy or morbid, it’s not. It’s a festive and colorful holiday. Mexicans visit cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend time there, in the presence of their deceased friends and family members. They also make elaborately decorated altars (called ofrendas) in their homes to welcome the spirits.
https://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/p/day_of_the_dead.htm

Mexican offering for the dead showing sugar skulls and assorted traditional candy.
Photo:  BigStockPhoto.com / AGCuesta

Representations of Catrina, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.

Representations of Catrina.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

October 31 – Halloween –  (Día de las Brujas)

Halloween (Día de las Brujas) is hailed mainly as a children’s festivity in Mexico on October 31

Halloween is celebrated among Mexican children who wear costumes when they go trick-or-treating to people’s homes, asking for candy. When they trick-or-treat at each door, they shout, “we want Halloween” (queremos Halloween).

Halloween background with silhouettes of children trick or treating in Halloween costume.
Photo: BigStockPhoto.com / Dazdraperma

Toys and candy that are made to resemble skeletons, coffins, and the personification of death (La Muerta) are found in many stores at this time of the year. Candles, paper wreaths and seasonal flowers are also sold for the Day of the Dead celebrations, which start as early as the evening of Halloween. www.timeanddate.com/holidays/mexico/halloween

Halloween, a contraction of “All Hallows’ Evening”,  also known as All Hallows’ Eve,  is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, or All Saints’ Day. It initiates the triduum of Hallowmas, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. Partial source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.  www.history.com/topics/halloween