Día de los Muertos

What is Día de los Muertos? Dia de los muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated October 28 th to November 2 nd, but it’s official dates are Nov. 1 st and 2 nd In the past, this period marked the time when the deceased could return to the world of the living and visit their loved ones, but now it is usually a time to celebrate, remember, and pray for their souls.

Who celebrates Día de los Muertos? The holiday originated in Mexico, and is celebrated in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Ecuador, and other countries. Many European countries celebrate the catholic holidays All Saints Day and All Souls Day, the equivalent of dia de los muertos. In Mexico, the festival is considered to be the most important holiday of the year. It is the largest and most elaborate celebration in Mexico all year long, even more grand than Christmas.

How do they celebrate Día de los Muertos? Families make altars to honor their deceased loved ones and adorn them “ofrendas” or offerings of things they enjoyed such as their favorite foods, favorite drinks, etc. Grave sites are also decorated with these gifts. For those who celebrate the holiday, Dia de los Muertos is a time of joy because they are surrounded by those that they love—both living and dead.

Altars and Ofrendas

Common Día de los Muertos ofrendas Orange marigolds called "cempasúchitl" or more modernly "Flor de Muerto" (Flower of the Dead). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings. Sugar Skulls which are elaborately decorated. Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead). This is often eaten by the celebrators along with other favorite foods of the deceased.

Skelton and Skulls during Día de los Muertos The calavera, or skeleton, is an important symbol during dia de muertos. Calaveras decorate the inside of shops and shop windows engaged in every daily activity imaginable dressed as judges, soldiers, housewives, soccer players, doctors, etc. The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth. The skulls were used to honor the dead, whom the Aztecs and other Meso- American civilizations believed came back to visit during the monthlong ritual.

Skelton and Skulls during Día de los Muertos "Gran calavera eléctrica" (Grand electric skull) by José Guadalupe Posada,

Skelton and Skulls during Día de los Muertos Today, people don wooden skull masks called “calacas” and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are also made and eaten by a relative or friend

Fin

Due Today – Tell me in complete sentences: 1. What is dia de los muertos? When is it celebrated and where? 2. How is is DDLM celebrated? What are some typical things you would see at a DDLM celebration? 3.Compare & contrast DDLM and Halloween. (You can use a venn diagram to organize your thoughts) 4.What did you learn about culture (others or your own) today? Did you think all cultures view death the same? different