The Festival of the Dead in Oaxaca features unique public rituals that blend ancient traditions with contemporary practices. Celebrants create vibrant altars decorated with marigolds, food, and photos to honor deceased loved ones. Parades are filled with participants dressing as calacas, merging the cheerful and macabre. Traditional music, dance, and performances encourage community involvement and reflection on mortality. These rituals not only celebrate the lives of the departed but also strengthen community ties, reinforcing cultural identity through an acknowledgment of life, death, and memory.