Day Of The Dead                                                                 

History 500 years ago, when the Spanish conquistadors landed in the place that is now called Mexico, they found natives practicing a ritual for the dead. It was ritual that the indigenous people had been practicing for 3,000 years. It was a ritual that the Spanish tried to erase without success. Today this ritual is called Dia de los Muertos or Day Of The Dead.

History The majority of Hispanics are Catholics, a part of Christendom. Mexicans celebrate Day Of The Dead. It is NOT the same as Halloween. Halloween is about scaring away the evil spirits. Day Of The Dead is a religious day very similar to All Saint’s Day& All Soul’s Day. It is about remembering and honoring loved ones who have passed away. They don’t fear death; they accept it as part of the cycle of life. They believe that the spirits don’t die. Life on Earth is the dream; life after death is eternal.

Special Days November 1st: The Little Angels. (children that have died) November 2nd: The Dead. (adults that have died)

The Offering They set a table with a tablecloth decorated with various things. Some of them may include: decorative cut paper flowers skeletons skulls candles bread of the dead incense food candy A photo water towel soap salt atole mole (a thick seasoned drink)

La Ofrenda They set a table with a white tablecloth decorated with various things. Some of them may include: papel picado cempasúchil esqueletos/calacas calaveras velas pan de muertos copal comida favorita dulces fotos agua toalla jabón sal atole (a thick seasoned drink)

The Offering The offering is made up of four components and two, three, or seven steps: Earth Heaven Heaven 7 levels Wind Earth Earth the spirit Water Underworld must cross Fire to reach eternal peace

The Offering= La Ofrenda

The Cemetary Gravesite People go to the gravesites of family members or dead friends to clean and decorate their gravesite. They put a lot of flowers, skeletons, skulls made of sugar, candles, food, candy, etc. Then, they have a candle-light vigil to remember the spirits of the departed, especially their loved ones. Preparation for Day Of The Dead begins up to 2 weeks before the celebration.

The Gravesites at the Cemetery (Las tumbas en el Cementerio/Panteón)

Decorated Tomb (tumba)

Flowers (Las flores)

La flor tradicional es el cempasúchil

Sand pictures = Dibujos de arena

Sand pictures = Dibujos de arena

Bread of the Dead (El pan de muertos)

Decoratively Cut Paper (El papel picado)

Sugar Skulls (Calaveras de azucar)

Calacas = Skeletons Depicted as joyous not mournful figures They wear festive clothing They dance and play musical instruments to indicate a happy afterlife Demonstrates Mexican belief that no dead soul likes to be thought of sadly, and that death should be a joyous occasion. Goes back to Aztec beliefs, one of the few traditions to remain after the Spanish conquest.

Las Calacas = Skeletons

Music and Dance The dancers carry calacas (artistic skeletons), pretending that the souls are visiting and doing a dance. The drums are the most important part of the music associated with the supernatural to cause vitality and rhythm.

Catrina Catrina is the most recognizable symbol for Day of the Dead. She is now a calacas and was painted by José Guadalupe Posada, a famous artist from Mexico.

Works of José Guadalupe Posada

The End