DAY Of The Dead is a colourful Mexican celebration where families and friends honour those close to them who have died.

The event has begun but when does it end and what do people wear for the celebrations? We've got the lowdown...

What is Day Of The Dead? When is the colourful festival?

Day of the Dead celebrations kicked off in Mexico, with millions of revellers taking to the streets to honour their lost loved ones.

People often construct their own private altars, where they honour the dead with a number of different gifts.

Sugar skulls and marigolds are among the offerings given up, as well as the favourite food and drinks of the departed.

As the years have gone by, the designs have become even more intricate and extravagant.

Last year, the first ever Day of the Dead parade took place in Mexico’s capital and it’s believed that this addition to the celebration was inspired by a scene from the James Bond film, Spectre.

The colourful festival is just around the corner and will take place from Tuesday October 31 and ends on Friday, November 2.

What costume ideas are there for Day Of The Dead?

Traditional dress

It is customary for women on Day of the Dead to wear long, floral Mexican dresses during the event.

Meanwhile Mexican men often wear fine, smart clothing on Dia de los Muertos.

Men will often wear black hats, meanwhile women will opt for floral headpieces.

Flowers in hair

Many revellers dress up as the skeletons of their deceased relatives, basing their look around the deceased.

And flowers, which are placed on relatives' graves during the event, are also a major theme.

People will wear colourful flowers in elaborate headpieces or hairbands to stand out from the crowds.

Masks

Many celebrants choose to wear masks called calacas, which is the colloqial term for skeletons in Mexican Spanish.

The skeletal look forms a central part of the Day Of The Dead event, in tribute to loved ones who have passed away.

A parade was held in Mexico City in 2016, which was said to have inspired by the James Bond scene in Spectre, and more than 1,000 actors, dancers and acrobats wore masks and paint.

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What make-up ideas are there for Day of the Dead?

Day of the dead skulls

A common symbol of the holiday is skulls, which ties in with the message of the festival being about honouring the deceased.

These will often be depicted on masks or drawn on faces using make-up.

Not only are worn or represented on many outfits and faces, but sugar skulls are given as gifts to both the living and dead.

Day of the dead face paint

Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada did a famous print of a

parody of a Mexican upper-class female which he called La Calavera Catrina, which means The Elegant Skull.

His image showed the costumed female with a skeleton face , and this look has become associated with the Day of the Dead.

Now many will cover their face in paint or striking make-up in honour of the celebrations - the more elaborate the better.

HOW TO DO DAY OF THE DEAD MAKE-UP

Day of the dead tattoos

Some people have honoured the festival by getting tattoos of women in the Day of the Dead attire.

In fact, there are now over 36,000 posts on Instagram with the hashtag #dayofthedeadtattoo.

Uploads show individuals showing off their intricate inkings on their body.

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