What is the name of the Mexican sweet bread traditionally eaten on Day of the Dead?

The Mexican sweet bread traditionally eaten on Day of the Dead is pan de muerto.

Pan de muerto, literally “bread of the dead,” is a soft, lightly sweet pan dulce baked in Mexico and the Mexican diaspora during the weeks around Día de Muertos, observed especially on November 1 and 2. It is commonly placed on an ofrenda, or home altar, and shared by living family members.

Its round form and crossed strips of dough are often interpreted symbolically: the circle evokes the cycle of life and death, while the strips resemble bones. Recipes vary by region and baker, but common flavors include orange zest, orange-blossom water, anise, butter, and sugar. The bread may resemble brioche, challah, or a soft bun.

A common mix-up is confusing it with rosca de Reyes, another Mexican sweet bread traditionally associated with Epiphany on January 6. Pan de muerto is also not based on the popular story that Spanish conquerors replaced human hearts with sweet bread; historians regard that tale as folklore rather than a documented origin.