Day of the Dead for Animals
In Mexico, Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is one of the most colourful and heartfelt festivals in the world. Families build altars filled with candles, food, and photographs to welcome back the souls of loved ones. Traditionally, people celebrate on 1 and 2 November, but in some parts of Mexico, 27th October has become known as the Day of the Dead for Animals.
It’s said that on this day, the spirits of our beloved pets, cats, dogs, parrots, even goldfish, find their way home once more. Candles light the path, while bowls of water, marigold petals, and small offerings of food are left to guide and welcome them.
A Modern Tradition with Ancient Roots
Although this date isn’t an ancient festival across all of Mexico, it reflects a growing wish to include animals in the cycle of remembrance. It makes sense. Animals have been part of human stories since the beginning of time, sharing our homes and our history.
For anyone who has lost a pet, 27th October is a chance to pause. To look at a photo, light a candle, and feel that connection once again. Whether or not you follow the full Día de los Muertos tradition, it’s a moving way to celebrate the love that continues beyond a lifetime.
The Island of Infinity
At Rockford’s Rock Opera, we tell a story about another place of remembrance, the Island of Infinity. It’s a strange, spiral-shaped island where the last one of every extinct species lives.
Here, creatures that once walked, swam, or flew on Earth still exist in peace. At the island’s centre stand four immense towers, called the Fossil Record Office, where every footprint, feather, or shell is carefully kept.
But before they reach the island, every creature passes through two enormous stone arches – the gateway to eternity.
The Arches of Infinity and the Rainbow Bridge
The grand entrance to Infinity Island, where the last one of every extinct animals species waits to be admitted through the great arches.
Those arches were inspired by a real place on Earth, Rainbow Bridge National Monument in Utah, USA. Long before we knew its name, we imagined our arches rising in the same sweeping curve, a natural link between sky and stone. Later we learned of the American idea of the Rainbow Bridge. A place where beloved pets go after death to wait for those who loved them.
It was an uncanny coincidence. The arches of Infinity and the Rainbow Bridge both hold the same truth: that love, once shared, never really ends. Just as the natural arch at Rainbow Bridge is sacred to the Indigenous peoples who see it as a place of passage and harmony, our arches mark the crossing between the living world and the realm of remembrance, where every lost creature finds its way home.
Nothing is ever truly gone if it is remembered. On the Island of Infinity, every extinct species still has a story.
Honouring Our Shared World
Perhaps that’s the real message behind this day. Whether a creature is domestic or wild, its spirit becomes part of the same great web of life. Lighting a candle for a pet, or learning about a vanished species, both carry the same wish, to remember, to care, and to do better for the living world.
For those of us who’ve lost a beloved animal, it’s comforting to imagine them returning for a brief moment. Maybe we sense it in a familiar sound or a soft rustle in the dark. This tradition offers a space to remember not with sadness but with love. It’s for the pets who shaped our days and for the countless animals who share our planet’s story.
So if you see a flickering light tonight, think of paws padding softly home and of far-off islands where extinct animals still sing their songs. In every act of remembrance, the world becomes a little more alive.
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For children who love animals:
At Rockford’s Rock Opera, we believe remembrance belongs to every creature.
From our pets who shared our homes to the species that shaped the Earth, love and memory cross the same bridge.
On October 27 — the Day of the Dead for Animals — we light a candle for them all.
We believe nature’s resilience can inspire both science and imagination. Our story Lost on Infinity explores extinction, biomimicry, and the secrets of the natural world through an unforgettable musical adventure.
Explore our world today:
Get the Lost on Infinity illustrated book with free musical audiobook – a totally immersive experience.
Listen to the first part of the Lost on Infinity audiobook and watch the animated adventure free on Apple App Store and Google Play.
Download our FREE lesson plans and slides about Extinction and Biomimicry. We also have a selection of classroom activities on our website.
For even more exploration of the natural world, tune in to our Stories, Science & Secrets podcast for kids. Join Matthew, Elaine, Steve Punt and special guests, as we delve into the fascinating world of biomimicry and the inspiring ways science learns from nature’s genius.