When The Souls Return: Monarch Butterfly Migration

Turning The Forest Orange Every Year

In late October every year, the Monarch Butterflies begin their migration to Michoacán to escape the cold. They travel more than 3,00 miles from Canada and the US to hibernate in Mexico’s forests and reserves until February. The sight is nothing short of magical: millions of butterflies clustered on the trunks and branches of tall oyamel trees, painting the forest in shades of fiery orange and gold. Visitors to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve can walk among them, feeling the soft flutter of wings as clouds of butterflies lift into the sunlight, a moment that feels almost sacred.

The Mazahua and Purépecha Legends

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is celebrated on November 2, and one of its most beautiful traditions is tied to the arrival of the Monarch Butterflies. According to the Mazahua legend, these butterflies carry the souls of departed loved ones returning to visit their families. It is believed that the souls of children arrive on November 1 to open the path for adults on November 2. Communities hold processions to guide the butterflies and honor their loved ones before the souls return to the afterlife.

The Purépecha people hold a similar belief. They see the Monarchs as spiritual messengers, their delicate wings transporting the souls of the dead. The butterflies are seen as helpers on this sacred journey and as symbols of transformation and renewal. As they pass by, their fluttering is believed to whisper messages from the beyond, a gentle reminder to pause, listen, and remember.

A Living Connection Between Worlds

This time of year, you may start to see the Monarch Butterflies fluttering through the skies of central Mexico. When you do, take a moment to pause and remember what they represent. Each one is believed to be a soul returning to visit, a gentle reminder that life continues in new forms, carried on delicate wings.