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 Dead Of The Dead.

History This is a religious day very similar to All Saint’s Day. Mexicans don’t celebrate Halloween. They celebrate Day Of The Dead. This is a religious day very similar to All Saint’s Day. The majority of hispanics are catholics, a part of christiandom. They believe that the spirits don’t die. They believe that the dead live in limbo, where they stay until they return to visit their families.

The Offering They set a table with a white 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 (a thick seasoned drink)

The Offering The offering is made up of four components: Earth Wind Water Fire

The Offering

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

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

At The Cemetery Hispanics go to the cemetery of the deceased and decorate their gravesites. They put flowers, food, and many candles. They stay until midnight continuing the candle-light vigil remembering their loved ones.

The Gravesites at the Cemetery

Bread of the Dead

Skulls

Flowers

Decoratively Cut Paper

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.

Calacas Calacas are skeletons used by dancers and are always used for the decoration of the Offering and on fireplaces. They are made by artists and are sold for decoration.

Calacas

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