Locals shop for traditional Dia de Los Muertos flower in remembrance of loved ones

Dia de Los Muertos festivities are underway along the Central Coast as many coming out to Lopez Flowers to buy the traditional cempasuchil flower.

The farm has been in operation for close to twenty years growing the "flower of the dead," a marigold, for the annual event.

"I have a lot of customers, a lot of people right. People come and they buy five, ten, twenty bouquets of flowers to create their altars for Dia de Los Muertos," owner Isaias Lopez said.

Within two weeks, the farm sells close to 10,000 flowers. The cemapasuchils will adorn the ofrenda, of altars, of the customers to pay tribute to those that have passed on with pictures of their loved ones.

"I work 10 to 14 hours daily to make sure the customers leave with fresh flowers," Lopez said.

"There's something about putting together your friend, going out and buying flowers...and buying things that they really liked or that were important to them," customer Monse Espitia said. "It makes me feel much more connected to the people that my the people who passed."

Other ways to pay tribute include placing pan de muerto, or "bread of the dead," on the altar and eating the favorite foods of past loved ones on the day.

"We all have our differences because you can be sad, or you can be happy because families will bring in mariachis, bandas for the loved ones at the cemeteries," Lopez said. "Lots of food, flowers, things that they loved, fruit, tequila; it’s all very traditional."

This also helps our loved one remember that we are still remembering them.

"With this celebration, it's not an end to life. It's a continuation," Espitia said. "And that's just grief is ongoing. But it's also something that shows that person meant something to you. And it's they're always they're just always with us."

Dia de Los Muertos is typically held on November 1 and 2 every year. But some begin celebrating as early as October 27th to remember their pets that have died.