Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life

1. Día de los MuertosP. 3

2. ¿Quées? • What is it? • Los Días de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexico holiday honoring the dead. Los Dias de los Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time of remembering and rejoicing. • When is it? • It is celebrated every year around the same time as Halloween on the holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (November 1st and 2nd). • Where is it celebrated? • It is celebrated in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other areas in Central and South America populated with the Latino ethnic background. The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in areas of the United States, such as California, Texas, and many others, in which the Mexican/American heritage exists.

3. Traditions- Altars • In the homes, families arrange “ofrenda” or "altars" with flowers, bread, fruit and candy. Pictures of the deceased family members are added. In the late afternoon special all night burning candles are lit - it is time to remember the departed - the old ones, their parents and grandparents. • Altars should include: • A picture (una foto) of the one being  remembered • Items they were fond of (cosas que le gustó/gustaba) • A snack or meal that they liked ( la comida o el alimento) • Candles (vela/candela) • Flowers (las flores) • Gifts (los regalos) http://www.kidzworld.com/article/27543-diy-day-of-the-dead-altar

4. Traditions: Food • Pan de los Muertos • Special loaves of bread are baked, called pan de muertos, and decorated with "bones.

5. Traditions: Papel Picado • Papel Picado is a traditional art used to decorate homes, businesses, markets and altars in preparation for the Day of the Dead. • The thin tissue paper images are usually cut in large quantities and hung in repetitious patterns.

6. Traditions: Flowers • During los Dias de los Muertos, the yellow marigold symbolizes the short duration of life. • Other flowers commonly seen during this celebration include the white amaryllis, wild orchids, baby's breath and ruby coxcombs are offered as adornment and enticement for the returning spirits. • Wreaths made of flowers, both real and plastic, are often placed on the grave sites.

7. Traditions: Skeletons • Skeletons and skulls are found everywhere. Chocolate skulls (calavera), sugar skulls, marzipan coffins, and white chocolate skeletons. • Handmade skeleton figurines, called calacas, are especially popular.Calacasusually show an active and joyful afterlife. Figures of musicians, generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in their white bridal gowns marching down the aisles with their boney grooms.

8. El vocabulario • el angélito -the little angel (used to refer to the soul of a child) • el arco -the arch (sometimes placed on the grave or on the altar) • el ataúd - the coffin • el atole - the hot drink made of corn, water and fruit flavorings • la calaca en papel maché -the paper maché figure • el candelero -the candlestick • las calacas -the skeletal figures that represent death • la calavera -the skull • las Calaveras - the songs and poems written about the festival • la calavera de azúcar - the sugar skull • las caretas - the masks worn to scare off the spirits at the end of the celebration • las catrinas - the skeletons, dressed like rich women, who represent death • el cementerio - the cemetery • el cempasúchil (cempazúchil) -the Mexican marigold • el flor de muertos -the flower of the dead (another name for the cempsúchil) • el copal - the incense • la cruz -the cross • la danza de los viejitos - the dance of the old people (a humorous dance in which the dancers wear masks of old people) • el Día de los Muertos - the Day of the Dead • el Día Todos los Santos - All Saints’Day • el esqueleto -the skeleton • los dulces -the candies • las flores -the flowers • los gollettes - the doughnut-shaped breads, with pink sugar on them, that are placed on the altar • la guitarra -the guitar • la iluminación -the illumination (the ceremony in the cemetery, during which hundreds of lit candles are thought to guide the deceased souls to their altars) • los mariachis -the Mexican musicians • la mariposa -the butterfly • la máscara -the mask • el mole - the thick sauce made from chilis, sesame seeds, spices, chocolate and fruit (a food typically eaten for this holiday, as well as many other special days) • la Noche de Duelo -the night of sorrow (November 1) • las ofrendas - the offerings • el pan de los muertos -the bread of the dead • el papel picado - the paper cut-out • los serapes - the Mexican blankets • el tambor - the drum • Todos Santos - All Saints, the religious holiday that extends from October 31- November 2 • la tumba -the grave

9. Contesta las preguntas en español. Escribe esto en tus apuntes y usa oraciones completas: • ¿Cuándo se celebra el Día de los Muertos? • ¿Dónde tiene lugar? (Países) • ¿Qué puedes encontrar en las casas • durante el Día de los Muertos? • 4. ¿Qué tiene el altar/la ofrenda? • 5. ¿Hay comida tradicional? • ¡USA LOS APUNTES!

10. Videos (Day of the Dead) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsbr_Tkn08w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCQnUuq-TEE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsbr_Tkn08w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUUAgEWeYeI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzaZidVrebA

11. Links • Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and Students • http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/teachers/ • Common misconceptions about the Day of the Dead • http://www.inside-mexico.com/noes.htm • History, Traditions, and Significance • http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/dead.htm • http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/ • http://www.lauraleemoore.com/diadelosmuertos.html