In Mixquic, the candlelit finale around the main church cemetery is the Alumbrada.
San Andrés Mixquic, in southeastern Mexico City, is famous for its Day of the Dead observances from October 31 through November 2. The celebration combines household ofrendas, cemetery decoration, processions, music, food, and religious rites rooted in both Indigenous and Catholic traditions.
The Alumbrada begins on the evening of November 2, after families clean and decorate the graves surrounding the Church of San Andrés Apóstol. Thousands of candles illuminate the cemetery, while copal incense creates a visible haze. Flowers—especially orange cempasúchil, or Mexican marigold—are arranged into crosses, religious images, and other designs on the tombs.
The name is sometimes confused with a general candlelight vigil, but in Mixquic it specifically identifies this climactic cemetery observance. Mixquic’s earlier history also helps explain the setting: the community was once an island in Lake Chalco and developed around chinampa agriculture. Today, the Alumbrada is both a solemn family ritual and a major cultural event attracting visitors from Mexico and abroad.