El Dia de los Muertos Notes #20 The Day of the Dead Mexican Celebration on November 1 and 2

Standards and Objectives CULTURES Gain 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 - YouTubeThe Haunted History Of Halloween 1 - YouTube Feasts - Mexico 2 of 3 - BBC Culture Documentary - Dia de los Muertos - YouTubeFeasts - Mexico 2 of 3 - BBC Culture Documentary - Dia de los Muertos - YouTube Feasts - Mexico 3 of 3 - BBC Culture Documentary - Dia de los Muertos – YouTubeFeasts - Mexico 3 of 3 - BBC Culture Documentary - Dia de los Muertos – YouTube Mexico's Day of the Dead - YouTube

History Video Links Em_Y&feature=related&safe=activehttp:// Em_Y&feature=related&safe=active 3lEks&feature=related&safe=activehttp:// 3lEks&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 1 st.

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 8 th century Pope Gregory the 3 rd renamed the Samhain Festival of Nov 1 st 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. america/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. a/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.

El Dia De Los Muertos The 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.

Altars honoring the dead

Day of the Dead bread Pan de muerto

Altars honoring the dead

Music honoring the dead at the grave site

Day of the dead Arts and Crafts

Decorated graves

Marigolds/Cempazuchil

Day of the dead Arts and Crafts

Candy Sugar Skulls Calaveras

Day of the dead Arts and Crafts

Calaveras

Pan de Muerto

Marigolds/Cempazuchil

Preparing and cleaning the graves

Decorated graves with Marigolds

Visiting graves

Altars honoring the dead

Day of the dead Arts and Crafts

Pan de muerto

Marigolds/Cempazuchil

Altars honoring the dead

Night time vigil

Cleaning and preparing the graves

Decorated Gravesite

Pan de Muerto

Chocolate Calaveras

Decorated Altar with food

Food altar

Visiting the gravesite

Decorated tomb

Decorated tombs

Using your notes compare and contrast Halloween traditions and El Dia de los Muertos Halloween A mixture of Celtic, Roman, and contemporary traditions Ancient beliefs of Spirits coming back to visit. Making fun of death and scary things El Dia de los Muertos A mixture of Spanish Catholic and Indigenous traditions. Modern beliefs of Souls coming back to visit. Making fun of death and embracing it.

Halloween Dressing up in costume and trick or treating for candy Halloween parties and celebrations. El Dia de los Muertos Selling Arts and Crafts and sugar candy skulls for kids and offering food to the dead. Fiestas at the gravesite with food and music