# Mexico town keeps Day of the Dead tradition alive, one sheet of paper at a time

> Artisans in Mexico's San Salvador Huixcolotla craft handmade papel picado for Dia de Muertos.
- Title: Mexico town keeps Day of the Dead tradition alive, one sheet…
- Summary: Artisans in Mexico's San Salvador Huixcolotla craft handmade papel picado for Dia de Muertos. Artisans in San Salvador Huixcolotla, Mexico, make handmade…
- Keywords: san salvador huixcolotla, papel picado, dia de muertos, mexico, artisans, handmade paper, folk art, news, world, town, keeps, Day
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/life/2026/10/22/mexico-town-keeps-day-of-the-dead-tradition-alive-one-sheet-of-paper-at-a-time/240153
- Published: 2026-10-22T21:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: san salvador huixcolotla, papel picado, dia de muertos, mexico, artisans, handmade paper, folk art, news, world
## Papel Picado Craft
Artisans in San Salvador Huixcolotla, Mexico, make handmade papel picado for Dia de Muertos festivals.

> The multicolored paper perforated with intricate folk art designs is known as “papel picado” (pecked paper).
## Handmade Tradition
More than a century later, three-quarters of the town’s 17,000 inhabitants are employed in producing the paper, which is exported worldwide.

> Papel picado originated in this small central Mexican town in the late 19th century.
## Global Demand
Artisans export decorative banners to countries including South Korea and Japan for events like baptisms and quinceaneras.

> He and his wife employ over a dozen people, including their four daughters, making decorative banners for clients as far away as South Korea and Japan.
## Peak Demand
Orders for papel picado skyrocket in the lead-up to Dia de Muertos, when hundreds of thousands of sheets are used nationwide.

> But orders skyrocket in the lead-up to the Day of the Dead, when hundreds of thousands of sheets of paper are used to deck out towns and cities.
## Artisan Pride
Miguel Reynoso, a 58-year-old artisan, says his craft is recognized globally and valued for its handmade quality.

> We get satisfaction from the idea that our craftsmanship is recognized in other countries and that people see value in handmade things.
## Family Business
Miguel Reynoso and his wife employ over a dozen people, including their four daughters, making banners for international clients.

> Miguel Reynoso has been in the business for 40 years.
## Cultural Significance
Artisans say the disappearance of handicrafts would be a blow to Mexico’s heritage and cultural identity.

> The disappearance of handicrafts, “a symbol of Mexico,” would be a blow to the country’s heritage, she argued.
## Key takeaway

Artisans in San Salvador Huixcolotla, Mexico, make handmade papel picado for Dia de Muertos festivals.