Which Christian season does Day of the Dead fall within?

Day of the Dead falls within the Christian season of Allhallowtide.

Allhallowtide is the Western Christian period surrounding All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. Because Day of the Dead is traditionally observed around November 1 and 2, it occupies the same calendar period as this three-day Christian observance.

In Mexico, the holiday’s modern form reflects a long interaction between Catholic practices introduced during Spanish colonization and Indigenous traditions for honoring the dead. That history explains why Day of the Dead can be both culturally Mexican and closely connected to the Christian calendar without being identical to a church feast.

A frequent mix-up is treating Allhallowtide as another name for Halloween. Halloween is specifically All Hallows’ Eve, October 31, and is the vigil or eve before All Saints’ Day. Allhallowtide is the larger season. Day of the Dead is also sometimes described simply as a Catholic holiday, but its practices, symbols, and regional meanings extend beyond formal Catholic observance.