MEXICO

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History… El Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, is one of the many fascinating celebrations that occur in Mexico. This holiday reflects how Mexican culture accepts death as an essential part of the cycle of life. Death on El Dia de los Muertos is joyfully celebrated as families gather to honour and show respect for their loved ones who have passed away. This holiday originated from the union of indigenous beliefs of death and afterlife with the European rituals of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

More History… There is the belief that during El Dia de los Muertos, souls of the dead return to the earth for one day of the year. The souls of children are said to arrive on October 31 and leave November 1, or All Saints' Day. The souls of the adults arrive on November 1 and leave on November 2, All Souls' Day.

So what do they do? This celebration requires much preparation. Families construct ofrendas (alters) to honour their loved ones. These alters are decorated with candles, gifts, marigolds, banners, food, and drinks. Tombs and graves in the cemeteries are cleaned and painted. A special bread known as Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead) is prepared along with candies in the shape of skulls. Skeleton figures clothed in modern and often comical attire are popular symbols of the holiday. El Dia de los Muertos is a colourful and joyful celebration that connects the past with the present. It reassures living Mexican people that when they too have passed away, they will be remembered and celebrated.

Interesting… Interesting… In Prehispanic times the dead were buried close to family homes (sometimes in a tomb underneath the house) and there was great emphasis on maintaining ties with deceased ancestors, who were believed to continue to exist on a different plane. The spirits are greeted with offerings of food and things that the person enjoyed in life. These are laid out on a day of the dead altar in the family home. It is believed that the spirits consume the essence and the aroma of the foods that are offered. When the spirits depart, the living consume the food and share it with their family, friends and neighbours. In ancient times people were buried close to their family homes and there was no need to have separate grave decorations and home altars, these were together in one place. Now that the dead are buried away from their homes, graves are decorated with the idea that the dead return there first. In some villages flower petals are laid in paths from the cemetery to the home so that the spirits will be able to find their way. In some places it is customary to spend the whole night in the cemetery, and people make a party of it, having a picnic supper, playing music, talking and drinking through the night.

10 quick facts 1) Leftover food is placed on the graves of dead relatives. 2) Celebrated mainly in Mexico. 3) A popular figure of the Day of the Dead celebrations that take place in Mexico is a catrina - a skeletal female vision that usually wears elaborate hats upon her head and is often seen carrying a bouquet of flowers. 4) Special loaves of bread called hojaldra are baked. 5) Celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2. 6) Happens at the same time as All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. 7) November 1 honours children and infants. Deceased adults are honoured on November 2. 8) Sugar skulls are eaten on this day. 9) Celebrations begin with the construction of an altar decorated with marigolds. 10) Favourite drink of this day is tequila.

HOW DOES NZ DO IT? Do we celebrate death in New Zealand? If so how? What processes do we follow? What do we do that is similar? What do we do that is different? What could we do? LETS DISCUSS IT…

CELEBRATE! CELEBRATE! We are going to have a ‘Day of the Dead’ Create your own scull design Or Papel picado (perforated paper) Commonly birds, floral designs or skeletons To be displayed on the wall