The New York Times Crossword · 44-Down · 6 letters

Spirit seen on el Día de los Muertos The New York Times Crossword clue

Editorially reviewed October 3, 2026

Answer · 6 letters

MEZCAL

The answer is the six-letter drink MEZCAL, not a ghost. Día de los Muertos evokes the spirits of loved ones, while 'spirit' can also mean distilled liquor. Smithsonian writing on the holiday notes mezcal among drinks enjoyed in some celebrations, making the wordplay culturally grounded rather than just a generic alcohol synonym.

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Let 'spirit' switch meanings

Día de los Muertos honors people who have died, so 'spirit' initially sounds supernatural. In the answer, it means liquor: mezcal is distilled from agave. The double meaning, rather than a direct translation of the holiday's name, is the clue's trick.

Keep the cultural connection precise

Smithsonian describes both remembrance of the deceased and adults drinking tequila or mezcal during some Día de los Muertos celebrations; it also notes that customs vary. That supports MEZCAL as a holiday-associated drink, not a claim that every ofrenda contains it. Six squares take M-E-Z-C-A-L.

References behind this explanation

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Where this clue appeared

44-Down in The New York Times Crossword puzzle for August 28, 2026.

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