SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — It was a celebration filled with food, decorations and lots of color. Dia de los Muertos is the “Day of the Dead,” a Mexican holiday celebrated by many in San Diego.

People came to the Old City from as far away as Spain, South Korea, Poland and Canada. Local people also appreciated the celebrations.

“A lot of people think it’s a bad thing that we celebrate La Muerta, the day of death, or whatever. But that’s not the point,” Tanya Ortiz said. “We celebrate the life of the person who died. It’s like a second birthday.”

Ortiz is Mexican but has lived in San Diego for the past 12 years. He sells blankets through his family business.

“It’s about having a little corner of Mexico with a different culture in your home and making it your own,” she said of her blankets and their role in this celebration.

The taste of Mexico is what Perla Cuevas and her brother Daniel Guizar love about vacation. And for this special celebration, tradition has even more meaning.

“This is the first year our father passed away,” Cuevas said. “And today, in his honor, he came to visit from Los Angeles and we celebrate our father together.”

Octavio Aguirre’s mother also passed away. He believes he will enjoy the celebration as much as he and his wife do.

“He would absolutely love it because when we were little we didn’t have things like this,” Aguirre said. “They didn’t! So it’s really amazing to bring attention to Latino celebrations. Absolutely amazing.”

Octavio’s wife, Robin, said the Old Town’s feel for the holiday does justice to the tradition.

“They’re having a really big celebration and people are very respectful,” Robin Aguirre said. “And everyone’s here to have a good time. I think that’s what we like most about it.”

Dia de Los Muertos also includes family and friends paying tribute to their deceased loved ones.