Elena of Avalor Celebrates Day of the Dead

Elena of Avalor Will Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

While the the writer’s, producers and executives behind Elena of Avalor have worked hard to keep Elena’s ethnicity ambiguous, she will be celebrating the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with a very special episode that will air on Disney Channel this Sunday, October 23rd.

Day of the Dead

In the short clip above, we see Elena, her sister and grandparents somberly gazing upon the alter as they remember their family now gone, but the Day of the Dead is also a celebration.

Dia de los Muertos is a public holiday in Mexico, where friends and family get together to remember and pray for those who have died. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is acknowledged internationally by many other cultures around the world. The event is a multi-day celebration starting on October 31st and ending on November 2nd to coincide with All Saints’ Day.

Day of the Dead traditions include visiting grave sites and building private altars called ofrendas in honor of those who passed and to help them on their spiritual journey. A typical ofrenda can include sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite food and beverages of the departed.

In the Dia de los Muertos episode, Elena and her surviving family members will visit the grave site of her parents, whose fate we will learn more about in the upcoming Disney Channel movie “Elena and the Secret of Avalor” when it premieres on November 20th. We know that Elena’s parents have passed, leaving her to rule Avalor at a young age.

Color plays a big role in Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Show creators used a lot of color in the costumes, decor and backgrounds in the episode. Each color has a specific meaning:

Purple – signifies pain, suffering, grief and mourning

Pink – signifies a celebration

White – means purity and hope

Orange – represents the sun

Red – is the blood of life

Yellow – marigolds represent death, their pedals are used to make a trail to the altar so that spirits can find their way

In a happier scene, we see Elena and her family members celebrating Dia de los Muertos with an original song, The festival of Love. Check out the video for a glimpse of the royal family’s epic costumes.

“A Day to Remember” will air this Sunday, October 23rd on Disney Channel.