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Discover the rich history and cultural significance of El Día de los Muertos in Mexico. Learn about its connection to Halloween and explore the vibrant traditions through altars, music, arts, and more.
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El Dia de los MuertosNotes #20 The Day of the Dead Mexican Celebration on November 1 and 2
Standards and Objectives • CULTURESGain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures • Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied • Objective: Students will watch the history of Halloween and how it relates to El Dia de los Muertos from the History channel. • 1)What is El dia de los Muertos and How is it related to Halloween origins
History Video Links • The Haunted History Of Halloween 1 - YouTube • Feasts - Mexico 2 of 3 - BBC Culture Documentary - Dia de los Muertos - YouTube • Feasts - Mexico 3 of 3 - BBC Culture Documentary - Dia de los Muertos – YouTube • Mexico's Day of the Dead - YouTube
History Video Links • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sflcw7jEm_Y&feature=related&safe=active • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbjmny3lEks&feature=related&safe=active
History channel Video Highlights • The roots of Halloween go back 3000 years ago to the ancient Celtic people of Ireland who called it the Harvest Festival of Samhain and celebrated the change of the seasons from fall to winter combined with mystical beliefs of spirits and ceremonial offerings. • The ancient Romans also celebrated a similar tradition around May 13 called Lemuria and merged with the Festival of Samhain. Both honored the dead and the harvest seasons. In 609 A.D the church merged this Pagan festival and moved it to Nov 1st.
They both shaped and provided the ingredients for what Halloween is today. • When Christianity spread, the church changed the pagan holiday and gave it a Christian twist so that pagan people would convert to Christianity. • By the 8th century Pope Gregory the 3rd renamed the Samhain Festival of Nov 1st to All Saints Day. It was also called All Hallow’s Day. Hallow meaning saint. Then it became All Hallow’s Evening because the celebration took place in the evening. • Later on it became known as Halloween.
All Saints Day was a day to remember all the saints who had died. • Then the church declared Nov 2 All Souls day to remember all who had died the past year. • Mexico took this holiday and called it El dia de Los Muertos. The day of the Dead. It combines Christian and pagan elements that stem from Spanish Catholic, Mexican Indian, and Halloween traditions. • Many cultures have taken the roots of Halloween and changed them to fit their beliefs and traditions.
Most of Latin America today which was influenced by Spanish exploration and who brought the Catholic religion celebrates All Souls Day or All Saints day on Nov 1 or 2 depending on the country and is more of a solemn day. They hold church ceremonies remembering their dead and visit their graves.
El Día de Todos Santos is also known as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Like many other Catholic celebrations, in the New World was grafted onto existing indigenous festivities to melt the "new" Catholicism with the "old" pagan beliefs. • http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/southamerica/a/TodosSantos.htm
In Latin American countries where the indigenous culture is still strong, such as in Guatemala and in Central America, and Bolivia in South America, Día de Todos Santos is an important meld of many influences. • In Central America, the dead are honored by visits to the their gravesites, often with food, flowers and all family members. In Bolivia, the dead are expected to return to their homes and villages. • http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/southamerica/a/TodosSantos.htm
In Peru, November 1 is celebrated nationally, but in Cuzco its known as Día de todos los Santos Vivos, or Day of the Living Saints and celebrated with food, particularly with the famed suckling pig and tamales. November 2 is considered the Día de los Santos Difuntos or Day of the Deceased Saints and is honored with visits to cemeteries. http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/southamerica/a/TodosSantos.htm
El Dia De Los MuertosThe Day of the Dead • Mexico holds a more festive and happy celebration on Nov 2. • It is a day to remember the dead. • It is believed that their souls come back to visit at the gravesite. • Family brings their dearly deceased their favorite food, decorate their grave with flowers and even bring their favorite music and hold picnics and hold all night vigils on Nov 2.
