Family gathering at home
Hang banners across the room where the family eats together, and one over the entryway to welcome guests. Marigold-orange and purple table linens pick up the colors in the flags.
November 1 – 2
Día de los Muertos Plastic Papel Picado
Día de los Muertos decorations often begin with papel picado: rows of cut flags hung above the ofrenda, the doorway and the gathering where families remember their loved ones. This plastic papel picado set brings Day of the Dead designs, including calaveras and Catrinas, to home altars, school displays and community celebrations, and its waterproof plastic can hang outdoors and be saved for next year.
Part of our Mexican party supplies collection of papel picado and handmade piñatas.
The tradition
Remembering, Not Haunting
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition, observed mainly on November 1 and 2, when families honor relatives who have died. It's a time of remembrance and warmth rather than fear: families build ofrendas with photos, marigolds, candles and favorite foods, visit and clean graves, and share stories.
It is not the same as Halloween, even though the dates are close. Customs vary from region to region and family to family.
- Papel picadoMexican cut-flag banners hung above altars, doorways and streets. Their color and movement add celebration to the remembrance.
- CempasúchilBright orange marigolds, often placed on and around the ofrenda.
- Calaveras & La CatrinaDecorated skulls and the elegant skeleton lady, symbols that treat death with familiarity and humor.
The banner set
Fiesta Wraps Día de los Muertos Plastic Papel Picado
Five multicolor plastic banners (listed as "Catrina Multi-color") with Day of the Dead cut-out flag designs such as calaveras (sugar skulls) and Catrina figures, ten designs per banner. Crafted in Central Mexico by local artisans.
- Banners5
- Length18.4 ft each · 92 ft total
- Flags10 per banner, 10 designs
- Flag size16 × 12.5 in (41 × 32 cm)
- MaterialWaterproof plastic, UV protection
- UseIndoor & outdoor; reusable
$31.99Amazon.com price as of October 13, 2026; prices may change.
Decorating ideas
Día de los Muertos Decorating Ideas, at Home and Beyond
Patio or garden
Because the banners are waterproof plastic, they can stay up outdoors through the first days of November. Cross them between posts or trees over the space where people gather.
Community celebrations
Line a plaza, parish hall, festival walkway or cemetery-visit gathering area. The full set gives 92 feet of banner.
Schools & classrooms
Frame a bulletin board or a class ofrenda project, so students can learn what the calaveras and Catrina designs mean.
Workplaces & community centers
Decorate a shared ofrenda where colleagues or neighbors are invited to add a photo, or a lobby display about the holiday.
Restaurants & shops
Run banners across the ceiling or storefront for the season; plastic can stay up for weeks and be stored afterwards.
The ofrenda
Adding Papel Picado to an Ofrenda
Every ofrenda is personal. At its heart are the people being remembered: their photographs, the foods and drinks they loved, candles, marigolds and keepsakes. Papel picado is one decorative element many families add around those things; it frames the altar rather than replacing anything on it.
- Above the altar: hang two or three short swags across the wall or doorway above the ofrenda.
- Along the edges: drape a banner down each side to frame the levels of the altar.
- Mind the candles: keep every banner well above and away from candle flames.
- Leave the center for the family: the photos and offerings should stay the focus.
Material
Plastic or Tissue Papel Picado for Día de los Muertos?
Papel picado is traditionally cut from tissue paper. Plastic keeps the cut-flag look with a more practical material.
| This plastic set | Tissue paper papel picado | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Bold color, slight sheen, Day of the Dead designs | Matte, delicate and translucent |
| Outdoors | Waterproof with UV protection, per the listing | Best indoors or under cover |
| Next year | Rinse, store and reuse | Designed for single use; reusable with gentle handling |
| Size | 18.4 ft banners, 16 × 12.5 in flags | Fiesta Wraps tissue banners: 14.8 ft, 13.8 × 8.7 in flags |
| Good for | Patios, community events, displays that stay up for weeks | An indoor home ofrenda with the traditional paper feel |
Prefer tissue paper? See our tissue papel picado on the hub.
Hanging & display tips
- Each banner is 18.4 ft; with a gentle sag it spans roughly 16 ft. Short swags over an altar can use part of a banner, with the ends tied off or looped.
- Tie or clip the cord to hooks, nails, posts or branches. Hooks and clips are not listed as included.
- Outdoors, secure both ends of each run against wind.
- Keep banners above head height in walkways and away from candles, heaters and lights.
- At schools and workplaces, follow building rules for decorations.
- After November 2, rinse if needed, let dry and fold for storage.
Before you buy: checklist
- Confirm the designs. This set uses Day of the Dead imagery. For general fiestas, a standard multicolor set may suit better.
- Measure. The set covers 92 ft across 5 banners; plan the runs you need.
- Choose the material. Plastic for outdoors or reuse; tissue for the traditional paper look indoors.
- Order early. Allow delivery time before November 1.
- Check the listing. Review the current details and price on Amazon.
Questions
Día de los Muertos Papel Picado FAQs
What is Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition in which families honor and remember relatives who have died. Homes are decorated with ofrendas holding photos, marigolds, candles and favorite foods, and families often visit and decorate graves. It is a celebration of memory and connection rather than a somber or frightening holiday, and customs vary by region and family.
When is Día de los Muertos celebrated?
Día de los Muertos is observed mainly on November 1 and 2. In many places, November 1 is dedicated to children who have died and November 2 to adults, and some families begin preparations in late October. Many people set up decorations and ofrendas in the days before November 1.
Is Día de los Muertos the same as Halloween?
No. Halloween, on October 31, has roots in Celtic and Christian traditions and focuses on costumes and spooky fun. Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition centered on remembering and honoring loved ones who have died. The dates are close and both use skull imagery, but their meaning and customs are different.
Can plastic papel picado be used on an ofrenda?
Yes. Many families hang papel picado above or around the ofrenda, and plastic papel picado works the same way while lasting longer. Keep it as a frame around the altar so the photos and offerings stay the focus, and hang it well away from candle flames. Tissue paper is the traditional material if you prefer that look.
What designs are on this Día de los Muertos papel picado?
The Fiesta Wraps Día de los Muertos set, listed as Catrina Multi-color, has Day of the Dead cut-out designs such as calaveras (sugar skulls) and Catrina figures, with ten designs per banner in bright colors. It includes five banners, each 18.4 ft long with ten 16 × 12.5 in flags. Check the Amazon listing photos to see every design before ordering.
Can I use this plastic papel picado outdoors?
Yes. The listing describes it as waterproof plastic with UV protection to resist fading, so it suits patios, gardens and outdoor community gatherings. Tie each banner securely at both ends, and take the banners down, rinse if needed and store them dry after the celebration to reuse them next year.
What is the difference between plastic and tissue papel picado?
Tissue papel picado is the traditional material: delicate, translucent and best kept indoors, and designed for single use. Plastic papel picado keeps the cut-flag look in a waterproof material that can hang outdoors and be stored and reused. Fiesta Wraps offers both; see our tissue papel picado.
More celebrations
More Papel Picado for Mexican Celebrations
Tissue papel picado
Mexican Independence Day
Cinco de Mayo
White plastic papel picadoHonor Your Loved Ones with Color
Five plastic papel picado banners with Day of the Dead designs, 92 feet in all, crafted in Central Mexico, waterproof for outdoor displays and ready to reuse next November.