DIA DE LOS MUERTOS November 1 & 2

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on the gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd

ALTARS Families build altars in honor of their loved ones who have passed away. They believe their loved ones will return to be with them on this special holiday.

You can create an ALTAR by decorating a table with the following: Photos of your loved ones Flowers, especially marigolds Papel picado Cempazuchitl Sugar skulls Calacas Pan De Muerto Ofrendas Copal Candles Glass of water ALTARS CAN BE AS ELABORATE OR AS SIMPLE AS FAMILIES WISH TO MAKE THEM.

Altars can also be made in miniature Altars can also be made in miniature. Using shoe boxes or wooden boxes to create special altars dedicated to a loved one can be fun.

Photos of your loved ones The photos of family members are displayed on the altar. This gives everyone a chance to reminisce and remember happy times with those who have passed away. It is also traditional to include special personal items that belonged to the loved one being remembered. Such items could include a favorite piece of clothing or jewelry, a book, or toys for a small child or “angelito”. It should be something that the departed had a strong affection for.

Papel Picado & Tissue Paper Flowers These are decorative crafts made to decorate houses and graveyards. The bright colors remind us that the holiday is a happy time not one of fear and terror. It is a time for all family members dead or alive, to be reunited.

CEMPAZUCHITL Cempazuchitl is the Mexican marigold. It dates back to Aztec times. It is a symbol of death. Altars are beautifully decorated with often hundreds of these bright orange flowers.

Sugar Skulls The skull may symbolize death to most people, but the sugar skull is made out of sugar to remind us of the sweetness of life. The decorations are colorful and special to each person.

CALACAS A calaca is the Spanish name for skeleton. It is a whimsical figure of a skull or skeleton commonly used to decorate for the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. Most calacas will be dressed up in their favorite clothing that represent the loved ones being remembered. Some people even create or decorate with calacas of their pets.

Calavara Masks Even though most people associate skulls and skeletons with death, during dia de los muertos, they also symbolize rebirth. They are made and worn to honor the dead. The skulls are always grinning because they are laughing at death. It is believed that death does not win over life because the families remember their loved ones and honor them on this special day.

PAN DE MUERTO Pan De Muerto, or the Bread of the Dead, is a sweetened soft bread shaped like a bun. It is often decorated with bone-like pieces. Pan de muertos is eaten on Día de los Muertos, at the gravesite or altar of the deceased. The bones represent the family member that has passed away. There is normally a baked tear drop on the bread to represent sorrow. The bones are represented in a circle to portray the circle of life.

OFRENDA Ofrenda means “offering” in Spanish. Before setting up an altar, families thoroughly clean their house. We must remember they are going to have very important "visitors". The ofrenda is set on a table, covered with a fine tablecloth, preferably white.

FOOD Food is specially prepared for the souls who are returning to visit. Their favorite dishes are cooked for them and placed on the altar: chicken, mole, tamales, fruits, steaks, hot chocolate, and so on.

CANDALS AND COPAL A candle is set on the altar for each deceased relative. Their light is thought to guide them on their way back to visit their family members. 

WATER Salt and water are also essential for the ofrenda. They are set out to quench the thirst of the souls who are tired from their long trip. Water also represents the purity of unconditional love of family.

In the evening, families go to the cemetery to bid farewell to their dead. Thousands of candles are lit to help guide their souls back to heaven.