Halloween Día de los Santos Día de los Muertos

Does anyone know how Halloween began? It goes back as far as 5 B.C. The Druid Celts believed that the souls of the dead visited Earth on the last day of October. They wore masks to scare off the bad spirits who may come to their door. It is believed that later the Romans added a few of their own traditions to the celebration.

What the tradition of Jack O’Lantern? The Jack-o-lantern custom comes from Irish folklore. Tale of Jack who was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways. Jack was condemned to wonder with a small amber. The Irish used turnips as to light their way and called it Jack o lantern. The Irish in America found pumpkins were more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an amber.

Los Españoles Brought their power and Religion They came to save the “Soul” All Saints Day

El Día de los Santos

*500 years ago the Spanish landed

In Mexico and Central America They discovered and conquered

Indigenous people practicing a ritual they could not do away with. Aztec empire and warrior

El Día de los Muertos Ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the US. It was merged with Catholic Theology * It still maintains basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the skulls.

Aztecs did not view death as the END of life, but a CONTINUATION of life. They believed that life is a dream, and only in DEATH did they become truly awake. Instead of fearing death they embraced it.

“Las Calacas” Found everywhere Made out of chocolate, marzipan and white chocolate. They symbolize a joyful afterlife.

Sugar skulls and Wooden mask skulls

People don wooden skull masks called – Calacas

“Desfile” People dress in costumes of the dead Face’s become a skull and they carry crosses.

“Papel Picado” Traditional are used to decorate homes, businesses, markets and las ofrendas.

“Las Flores” “Calendula” (Marigold) Short duration of life. They are used as adornment and enticement for the returning spirits

“Ofrendas” Are found in homes “Las Ofrendas” include: Picture of the one being remembered Items they were fond of Somehting to snack on Candles Flowers Gifts

Wooden Skulls are placed on – Altars dedicated to the dead

People visit the cemetery, decorate the gravesites with flowers and candles

Comida Pan de los Muertos. Special loaves of bread decorated with bones

“Cementerios” “Las tumbas” are decorated: Flores Calacas Comida

Day and evening gatherings at the gravesites – eat favorite food of the loved one that died.

El Dia de los Muertos begins on the eve of 31/10 It continues for 2 days On 1/11 the children that died are celebrated On 2/11 the adults are celebrated.

“La creencia” November 1: All Saints Day (families gather near the ofrendas in their homes) November 2- All Soul Day.(families gather in the cemeteries to honor the dead at the grave)

El Dia de los Muertos