A colourful Mexican Day of the Dead carnival with "skeleton dances" and traditional music took place in Moscow on Friday.
Initially the organisers planned to stage a parade on the Red Square, but the city authorities banned the outdoor event last minute so it had to move inside the Mexico House nearby.
The Day of the Dead, usually celebrated on November 2, is a festive occasion where spirits of deceased loved ones are welcomed back into their homes.
While death is a topic avoided in many countries, the remembrance of deceased ancestors is traditional in Mexico.
The Day of the Dead combines Roman Catholic observances of All Souls' Day with pre-Hispanic customs of offering food, or even cigars and tequila, to souls said to return for a day.
APTN
