Día de los Día de los MuertosMuertos

¿Qué es?¿Qué es?

El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead , is El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead , is a holiday that incorporates ancient Aztec a holiday that incorporates ancient Aztec customs and Catholic traditions in order to customs and Catholic traditions in order to honor the dead. El Día de los Muertos is not honor the dead. El Día de los Muertos is not meant to be seen as a sad time or evil time, meant to be seen as a sad time or evil time, but instead a time of family reunion, but instead a time of family reunion, remembering loved ones, and celebrating life. remembering loved ones, and celebrating life.

It is thought that during this time, the souls It is thought that during this time, the souls of the dead are allowed to journey back to the of the dead are allowed to journey back to the earth and spend time with loved ones and earth and spend time with loved ones and enjoy the beauties of life as they once did. enjoy the beauties of life as they once did.

¿Dónde y Cuándo?¿Dónde y Cuándo?

El Día de los Muertos is mostly a El Día de los Muertos is mostly a Mexican holiday, but is also celebrated Mexican holiday, but is also celebrated in Guatemala, other Central American in Guatemala, other Central American countries, and even the United States. countries, and even the United States.

El El Día de los Muertos is a 3 day event, Día de los Muertos is a 3 day event, beginning on the night of Oct. 31beginning on the night of Oct. 31stst and and going through Nov. 2going through Nov. 2ndnd. These dates . These dates coincide with the holidays of Halloween, coincide with the holidays of Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. All Saints Day, and All Souls Day.

31 de octubre31 de octubre

Spend the day at the cemetery Spend the day at the cemetery cleaning grave sites, painting tombs, cleaning grave sites, painting tombs, arranging flowers and candles, and arranging flowers and candles, and having family picnics.having family picnics.

At night, family reunions around the At night, family reunions around the tombs and gravesites of family tombs and gravesites of family members. members.

1 de noviembre: 1 de noviembre: Día de los AngelitosDía de los Angelitos

Coincides with Catholic holiday “All Coincides with Catholic holiday “All Saints Day”Saints Day”

Thought to be the day when the Thought to be the day when the spirits of little children who died spirits of little children who died early in live are able to cross the veil early in live are able to cross the veil of death and visit family.of death and visit family.

2 de noviembre:2 de noviembre:Día de los MuertosDía de los Muertos

Coincides with Catholic holiday “All Coincides with Catholic holiday “All Souls Day”Souls Day”

Is thought to be the day when the Is thought to be the day when the spirits of the adults are able to come spirits of the adults are able to come back.back.

Calaveras y Esqueletos Calaveras y Esqueletos (calacas)(calacas)

Skulls and skeletons are used in Skulls and skeletons are used in decorating throughout the decorating throughout the holiday to represent death and holiday to represent death and their loved ones (sugar skulls)their loved ones (sugar skulls)

They are often brightly painted, They are often brightly painted, dressed up in clothes, and dressed up in clothes, and displayed in scenes to depict displayed in scenes to depict what they used to do in life: jobs, what they used to do in life: jobs, hobbies, favorite past timeshobbies, favorite past times

Traditions- AltaresTraditions- Altares In their homes, families In their homes, families

arrange arrange altares altares withwith ofrendasofrendas as tributes to as tributes to their dead loved ones their dead loved ones and to entice them to and to entice them to return and spend time return and spend time with themwith them

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

remembered remembered Food and items they were Food and items they were

fond of fond of Candles Candles Flowers Flowers GiftsGifts

Pan de MuertosPan de Muertos

Special loaves of bread are baked, Special loaves of bread are baked, called called pan de muertospan de muertos, and , and decorated with bonesdecorated with bones

FloresFlores During los Dias de los Muertos the During los Dias de los Muertos the

Cempasúchil, yellow marigold, is used Cempasúchil, yellow marigold, is used for most decorating purposes. It for most decorating purposes. It symbolizes the short duration of life. symbolizes the short duration of life.

Papel PicadoPapel Picado Papel Picado is thin, Papel Picado is thin,

colorful tissue paper colorful tissue paper used to cut out images used to cut out images of skeletons doing of skeletons doing humanly activities. humanly activities.

They are usually cut in They are usually cut in large quantities and large quantities and hung in repetitious hung in repetitious patterns.patterns.

LinksLinks

Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and StudentsStudents http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/teach

ers/

Common misconceptions about the Common misconceptions about the Day of the DeadDay of the Dead http://www.inside-mexico.com/noes.htm

History, Traditions, and SignificanceHistory, Traditions, and Significance http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/dead.htm