The Day of the Dead, or El Dia del Muerto in Spanish, is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican and South American cultures elsewhere.  The multi-day holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.  In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List  of the Intangible Cultural heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.