Mexico City has secured a Guinness World Records title for the world's tallest Day of the Dead installation after unveiling a giant skeleton figure in the capital's main public square, the Zócalo.
Standing nearly 110 feet tall and weighing more than 100 tonnes, the structure surpasses the previous record held by Puerto Vallarta, which set the benchmark in 2023.
The monument was built by a team of about 140 workers using a steel framework and lightweight fibreglass components to support its enormous structure.
The giant figure, dressed in a purple gown stretching more than 88 feet, represents La Catrina, one of the most recognisable symbols of Mexico's annual Day of the Dead celebrations.
The installation is accompanied by a traditional altar surrounded by thousands of orange marigolds grown in the nearby Xochimilco district. The flowers hold cultural significance, with tradition suggesting their scent and colour help guide the spirits of departed loved ones back to their families.
Observed annually on November 1 and 2, the Day of the Dead is a cultural celebration in which families gather to remember and honour relatives and friends who have died.
The tradition blends ancient Indigenous beliefs with European influences. During the celebrations, families create memorial altars known as ofrendas, decorate graves and wear colourful skeleton-themed costumes.
La Catrina's origins date back to the early 20th century, when Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada created the skeletal character to satirise wealthy women who embraced European fashion while distancing themselves from their Mexican heritage.
Famed muralist Diego Rivera later popularised the figure through his artwork, helping establish La Catrina as an enduring symbol of Mexican identity and the Day of the Dead.
The record-breaking installation will, however, be temporary. Visitors have until November 2 to view the giant sculpture and its accompanying altar before workers dismantle the structure.