Día de los Día de los MuertosMuertos

PreguntasPreguntas Que es Que es

Los Dias de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Los Dias de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexico holiday honoring the dead. Los Dias de traditional Mexico holiday honoring the dead. Los Dias de los Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time of los Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time of remembering and rejoicing. remembering and rejoicing.

Cuando esCuando es It is celebrated every year at the same time as Halloween It is celebrated every year at the same time as Halloween

and the Christian holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls and the Christian holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (November 1st and 2nd). Day (November 1st and 2nd).

Donde lo celebranDonde lo celebran It is celebrated in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other It is celebrated in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other

areas in Central and South America populated with the areas in Central and South America populated with the Latino ethnic background. The Day of the Dead is also Latino ethnic background. The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in areas of the United States, such as California, celebrated in areas of the United States, such as California, Texas, and many others, in which the Mexican/American Texas, and many others, in which the Mexican/American heritage exists. heritage exists.

TradicionesTradiciones In the homes families In the homes families

arrange arrange ofrenda'sofrenda's or or "altars" with flowers, "altars" with flowers, bread, fruit and candy. bread, fruit and candy. Pictures of the deceased Pictures of the deceased family members are added. family members are added. In the late afternoon In the late afternoon special all night burning special all night burning candles are lit - it is time candles are lit - it is time to remember the departed to remember the departed - the old ones, their - the old ones, their parents and grandparents.parents and grandparents.

Altars should include:Altars should include: A picture of the one being  A picture of the one being 

remembered remembered Items they were fond of Items they were fond of Something to snack on Something to snack on Candles Candles Flowers Flowers GiftsGifts

Traditions: FoodTraditions: Food

Pan de los MuertosPan de los Muertos Special loaves of bread are baked, called Special loaves of bread are baked, called pan pan

de muertosde muertos, and decorated with "bones. , and decorated with "bones.

Traditions: FlowersTraditions: Flowers During los Dias de los Muertos the yellow During los Dias de los Muertos the yellow

marigold symbolizes the short duration of life. marigold symbolizes the short duration of life. Other flowers commonly seen during this Other flowers commonly seen during this

celebration include the white amaryllis, wild celebration include the white amaryllis, wild orchids, baby's breath and ruby coxcombs are orchids, baby's breath and ruby coxcombs are offered as adornment and enticement for the offered as adornment and enticement for the returning spirits. returning spirits.

Wreaths made of flowers, both real and plastic, Wreaths made of flowers, both real and plastic, are often placed on the grave sites.are often placed on the grave sites.

Traditions: Papel PicadoTraditions: Papel Picado

Papel Picado is a Papel Picado is a traditional art used to traditional art used to decorate homes, decorate homes, businesses, markets and businesses, markets and altars in preparation for altars in preparation for the Day of the Dead. the Day of the Dead.

The thin tissue paper The thin tissue paper images are usually cut in images are usually cut in large quantities and large quantities and hung in repetitious hung in repetitious patterns.patterns.

Traditions: SkeletonsTraditions: Skeletons Skeletons and skulls are found everywhere. Skeletons and skulls are found everywhere.

Chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, and white Chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, and white chocolate skeletons. chocolate skeletons.

Handmade skeleton figurines, called cHandmade skeleton figurines, called calacasalacas, , are especially popular. are especially popular. CalacasCalacas usually show an usually show an active and joyful afterlife. Figures of musicians, active and joyful afterlife. Figures of musicians, generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in their white bridal gowns marching down the their white bridal gowns marching down the aisles with their boney grooms. aisles with their boney grooms.

SkullsSkulls

Skulls symbolize death and rebirth. Skulls symbolize death and rebirth.

The Aztecs and Mesoamerican civilizations The Aztecs and Mesoamerican civilizations kept skulls as trophies andkept skulls as trophies and

displayed them during rituals. displayed them during rituals. The skulls were also used to honor the deadThe skulls were also used to honor the dead The skulls are typically grinning because The skulls are typically grinning because

they are laughing at death. they are laughing at death. They can be made from paper, wood, paper They can be made from paper, wood, paper

mache, tin, or sugar.mache, tin, or sugar.

CalacasCalacas

These are toy figurines for children. These are toy figurines for children. •• They are used to introduce the They are used to introduce the concept of death to children so that concept of death to children so that they are not afraid of it.they are not afraid of it.

Pan de MuertosPan de Muertos This bread represents the soul of the This bread represents the soul of the

departed.departed. Sometimes it is in the shape of a Sometimes it is in the shape of a

skull and can beskull and can be decorated with frosting or seeds. In decorated with frosting or seeds. In

Oaxaca the seeds represent Oaxaca the seeds represent happiness.happiness.

Flowers/marigoldFlowers/marigold The flowers must be specific colors, orange andThe flowers must be specific colors, orange and yellow, and are considered the flowers of the yellow, and are considered the flowers of the

dead. The sweet smell and petals, which are used dead. The sweet smell and petals, which are used to mark a clear path, lure the souls back to to mark a clear path, lure the souls back to homes and altars. The orange marigold was the homes and altars. The orange marigold was the flower that the Aztecs used to remember their flower that the Aztecs used to remember their dead. Its color represents the tones of the earth. dead. Its color represents the tones of the earth.

Las Velas / CandlesLas Velas / Candles

Common colors for candles are purple Common colors for candles are purple (representing pain), white (for hope), and (representing pain), white (for hope), and pink (meaning celebration). They are pink (meaning celebration). They are usually placed in the four cardinal points, usually placed in the four cardinal points, making a cross. making a cross.

The light of the candle is used to The light of the candle is used to illuminate the way for the dead as they illuminate the way for the dead as they return. Each candle represents a departed return. Each candle represents a departed soul.soul.

Copal Copal Originating in pre-Hispanic times, the incense is Originating in pre-Hispanic times, the incense is

used to attract souls. Copal is a special and used to attract souls. Copal is a special and expensive incense that can be found in Puebla. expensive incense that can be found in Puebla. The whiter the incense, the better it is The whiter the incense, the better it is considered because it lasts longer. Incense is put considered because it lasts longer. Incense is put on the altar last.on the altar last.

Food/Fruit and candy Food/Fruit and candy The altar may be decorated with special foods, The altar may be decorated with special foods, candy, or beverages that the people enjoyed while candy, or beverages that the people enjoyed while they were alive. Chocolate may be added, they were alive. Chocolate may be added, especially in Oaxaca, famous for the mole sauce especially in Oaxaca, famous for the mole sauce made with chocolate. You know that the dead have made with chocolate. You know that the dead have come back to visit an altar because sodas go flat, come back to visit an altar because sodas go flat, bread comes hard, and fruits get soft.bread comes hard, and fruits get soft.

MasksMasks By putting on a mask, a person can become By putting on a mask, a person can become

another being, either alive or dead. Many another being, either alive or dead. Many indigenous people still depend on masks believing indigenous people still depend on masks believing they are needed to make the rituals or dance they are needed to make the rituals or dance performances effective. performances effective.

Masks can be made from wood, tin, cloth, leather, Masks can be made from wood, tin, cloth, leather, hemp, clay, feathers,hemp, clay, feathers,

shells, or paper mache. Some masks date back to shells, or paper mache. Some masks date back to 1000 BC.1000 BC.