Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos), celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2, is full of lively colors: the orange of cempasúchil marigolds, Mexican pink, purple and the bright tones of papel picado (cut-paper banners). These 12 palettes work for ofrendas (home altars), posters, invitations and graphic design.
Cempasúchil Marigold
The oranges of the altar's signature flower.
Papel Picado
Bright colors like the little cut-paper flags.
Catrina
Black, bone and red for makeup and posters.
Mexican Pink and Purple
Intense, festive and instantly recognizable.
Ofrenda at Night
Lit candles on a dark background.
Sugar Skull
Sweet and cheerful, ideal for kids.
Clay and Marigold
Inspired by clay pots and flowers.
Mourning Purple
More understated, with purple in the lead.
Pan de Muerto
Tones of sweet bread, sugar and cinnamon.
Cemetery Fiesta
High-contrast for posters and events.
Candle and Copal
Warm and peaceful, for invitations.
Turquoise and Orange
A complementary pairing from Mexican folk art.
Tap a color to copy its hex code. The pencil icon opens the palette in the editor so you can change it.
Marigold orange is the base
If you only use one color, make it the orange of the cempasúchil marigold. It's the color most tied to the holiday, and tradition says it guides souls home.
Respect the meaning of the holiday
Day of the Dead is not Halloween. Avoid acid green, spiderwebs or horror tones; the palette should be colorful and festive, not sinister.
Use dark backgrounds to make colors pop
Papel picado and flower colors really glow on black or very dark purple. It's a common choice for posters and social media.