The Day of the Dead The Latino Halloween El día de los muertos The Day of the Dead The Latino Halloween

Purpose Commemorate dead loved ones Mix of Spanish Catholic and Aztec beliefs *Very important, mostly Mexican tradition *Commemorates dead and is opportunity to family to gather together to do so. ~From influences of Catholic Spaniards (All Saints and All Souls Days) and precolumbian-aztec practices, beliefs “The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[3]” Pic http://www.lapetitegardenia.com/blog/the-history-of-dia-de-los-muertos.html http://www.christianlatino.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Origins Mesoamerican rituals (Aztecs, Mayans) Spanish influence Honor the dead Reinforce belief in afterlife Late July -late August (corn harvest) Spanish influence Catholic All Saints and All Souls Days Goddess Micatecacihuatl, or Catrina, Queen of the Afterlife http://www.lapetitegardenia.com/blog/the-history-of-dia-de-los-muertos.html Celebrate rather than fear death; dead probably rather be celebrated k mourned Spanish forced Aztecs to move celebrations to coincide with Catholic celebrations of dead in early Nov Goddess turned into a skeletal woman, fancy clothes and ornate, large hats—reminder of mortality --gave rise to current calacas, skeletons which often “show joyful and active afterlife.”

2 31 1 Dónde y cuándo octubre noviembre noviembre Donde y cuando *Different celebrations in different places, for example ~Brazil==día de finados, public holiday visit church y cemetery ~Spain, parades, processions and visit cemetery ~South West US, Mexican population celebrations similar to what you see in México *Three days Oct 31, Nov 1, Nov 2 during which clean and decorate graves, make ofrendas or altars, eat special foods, and remember loved ones Nov 1: in Mexico, honors children and infants==día de los inocentes or angelitos Nov 2: in Mexico, honors adults==día de los muertos o difuntos noviembre 2

Tradiciones: practicas la ofrenda Traditions Ofrendas or altars made in public places and in homes decorated with pictures of deceased loved ones, flowers (marigolds) and tasty foods to direct or tempt dead to visit also use papel picado (colorful cut out paper to decorate with), possessions of deceased and sugar skulls or calaveras (skulls) Pics http://www.lapetitegardenia.com/blog/the-history-of-dia-de-los-muertos.html http://ladyrasta.com.br/2008/10/29/festa-de-finados-animada/

Tradiciones-decoraciones Pics http://www.zanzibartrading.com/diasdelosmuertos.htm http://shop.arteyloqueras.ieasysite.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=SSD-02

Tradiciones-comidas Foods: local fruits and nuts, tomales, hot chocolate, chicken, candy Usually make some of deceased’s fav foods; “In some parts of the country (especially the cities, where in recent years there are displaced other customs), children in costumes roam the streets, knocking on people's doors for a calaverita, a small gift of candies or money; they also ask passersby for it. This custom is similar to that of Halloween's trick-or-treating and is relatively recent Pics http://www.lapetitegardenia.com/blog/the-history-of-dia-de-los-muertos.html http://www.casalatina.com/mole-tamales-and-dia-de-los-muertos/ http://www.cristinaacosta.com/blog/2009/10/the-colors-of-dia-de-los-muertos-the-day-of-the-dead/ http://kymri.photoshelter.com/image/I0000K297eKCcjHU

Clip – Tapetes Sand Paintings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ5frICMlpc