Los Días de los Muertos

Los Días de los Muertos Los Días de los Muertos What is it? What is it?  Los Días de los Muertos, the Days of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away. Los Días de los Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time of remembering, reflecting, and rejoicing. When is it? When is it?  It is celebrated every year on November 1 st and 2 nd. Preparations can begin 1-2 weeks before the Christian holy days of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (November 1st and 2nd). Nov. 1 is for remembering the children, and Nov. 2 is for remembering the adults.

Traditions: Ofrendas Families arrange ofrendas or “altars” in their homes to remember their loved ones who have passed away. In the late afternoon, special all-night burning candles are lit in their honor and to help the spirits find their way back home. Families arrange ofrendas or “altars” in their homes to remember their loved ones who have passed away. In the late afternoon, special all-night burning candles are lit in their honor and to help the spirits find their way back home. Ofrendas usually include: Ofrendas usually include:  A photo of the one being remembered  Items they were fond of  Food (tamales, mole poblano, frutas), pan de muerto, and drink (agua)  Candles (velas)  Flowers (cempasúchil)  Papel picado (tissue paper decorations)

Traditions: Papel Picado Papel Picado is a traditional art used to decorate homes, businesses, markets, and altars in preparation for the Days of the Dead. Papel Picado is a traditional art used to decorate homes, businesses, markets, and altars in preparation for the Days of the Dead. The thin tissue paper images of the dead mimicking life are usually cut in large quantities and hung in repetitious patterns. The thin tissue paper images of the dead mimicking life are usually cut in large quantities and hung in repetitious patterns. The papel picado pictured here is based on La Catrina, a famous etching by the famous artist José Guadalupe Posada. The papel picado pictured here is based on La Catrina, a famous etching by the famous artist José Guadalupe Posada.

Traditions: Food Pan de Muertos y chocolate Pan de Muertos y chocolate  Special loaves of bread are baked for this holiday, called pan de muertos. They decorated with knobs (to represent skulls), bones, or faces. They are usually sprinkled with sugar or sesame seeds.  It is also tradition to drink chocolate (Mexican hot chocolate) with the bread. This is made from disks of cinnamon-infused bittersweet chocolate being melted then frothed with a molinillo (wooden whisk) in hot milk..

Traditions: Skeletons Skeletons (esqueletos) and skulls (calaveras) are found everywhere such as chocolate and sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar), marzipan and sugar coffins, and white chocolate skeletons. Skeletons (esqueletos) and skulls (calaveras) are found everywhere such as chocolate and sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar), marzipan and sugar coffins, and white chocolate skeletons.

More Skeletons: Calacas  Handmade skeleton figurines, called calacas, are used to decorate graves and ofrendas.  Calacas usually show an active and joyful afterlife.  There are figures of musicians, people playing sports, generals on horseback, even skeleton brides and grooms.

Traditions: Flowers During los Días de los Muertos the yellow-orange marigold or Cempasúchil (the flower of the dead) is used to decorate the graves and ofrendas. During los Días de los Muertos the yellow-orange marigold or Cempasúchil (the flower of the dead) is used to decorate the graves and ofrendas. Once cleaned and repaired, the grave sites (tumbas) are adorned with flowers, skeleton figurines (calacas), and candles (velas). Copal, a type of incense, is also lit to help the spirits find their way back to earth. Once cleaned and repaired, the grave sites (tumbas) are adorned with flowers, skeleton figurines (calacas), and candles (velas). Copal, a type of incense, is also lit to help the spirits find their way back to earth.

Traditions: Cemetery Vigil Families spend the evening in the candlelit cemeteries with their loved ones. Families spend the evening in the candlelit cemeteries with their loved ones. Children play games. Children play games. Families sing and tell stories of their loved ones’ lives. Families sing and tell stories of their loved ones’ lives.

Links for extra study Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and Students Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and Students  Common misconceptions about the Day of the Dead Common misconceptions about the Day of the Dead  History, Traditions, and Significance History, Traditions, and Significance 