1. “Life is but a dream. It is only when we die, that we can truly live.”
El día de los muertos
“Life is but a dream. It is only when we die, that we can truly live.”

2. Objetivo 1. Compare Halloween and Día de los Muertos
2. Recognize that the attitude toward death/dying is altered when it is used a way to celebrate life and as remembrance
3. Compare elements of this holiday and other cultures (Memorial Day in the US, Chinese observance of ancestral holidays, etc) are helpful to students to view this holiday more globally.

3. Día de los Muertos Often misunderstood cultural celebration.
Cultural attitudes to death/dying and discussions of end of life are different which leads to misunderstanding
Death/images of death in American culture tend to be used to scare people or be gory (think Hollywood movies, etc)
Images of death are used during Day of the Dead as a way to laugh at the unknown and fear it less.

4. La muerte = death
“The word ‘death’ is not pronounced in New York, in Paris, in London, because it burns the lips. The Mexican, in contrast, is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it; it is one of his favorite toys and most steadfast love.”
-Octavio Paz
“ Una sociedad que niega la muerte, niega la vida "

5. La historia 2,500-3,000 year old celebration
“Don’t’ fear dying. Fear never having lived.” -Anonymous
La historia
2,500-3,000 year old celebration
Traced back beyond Aztecs to other pagan cultures
Celebration life that incorporates Christian symbols now (crosses, etc)
Celebrated in Mexico traditionally, but also in other places in Latin America
Is *not* the same as Halloween

6. La creencia = the belief
November 1 and 2: Spirits are granted Divine permission to return to visit family.
November 1: Día de los Ángelitos: Spirits of children return
November 2: All spirits return
Beginning in mid-October, families prepare to welcome the souls of their relatives and ancestors who return at this time of year to make sure that all is well and that they have not been forgotten.
Celebrations at home include family dinners, trips to the grave sites, “ofrendas” (or altars), flowers, folk art, special foods, and candies.

7. Halloween vs. Día de los muertos
Night before (October 31) the holiday “All Saint’s Day” (November 1)
All Saint’s Day and the day after (November 1st and 2nd)
November 1st = los angelitos (children’s spirits) return home
November 2nd = adult spirits return home
Evil Spirits roam the earth. We dress our children in “scary” costumes so the spirits won’t take them.
No costumes.
Not an “evil” holiday.
It is a celebration of life.
All negative/scary representations of death/terror.
Positive celebrations of family, ancestors, life, and community.
Very humorous look at life.

8. La Catrina Represents the great equalizer of death
Was created by Jose Guadalupe Posada, 1910
Notice: feminine form & beautiful decorations
Created to show the upper classes may have everything while alive, but in the end – everyone is the same: skeletons/moving on through death

9. Las ofrendas Altars are set up at homes and at grave sites.
Think: Memorials
The most basic altar includes these basic needs:
WATER to quench the thirst and for purification
SALT to season the food and for purification
BREAD to represent the food needed for survival
Most altars also have:
Flowers – Marigolds, in particular
Pictures of the deceased
Favorite foods/drinks of the deceased
Candy – bring sweetness of life back
Religious symbols, art, or images (crosses, etc.)

10. Las ofrendas In a home Elegant/Formal
Notice similiarities: flowers, photos, food
On a mantel/in home

11. En el cemetario
Some families bring a picnic to eat dinner at the gravesite, play music, etc.
Notice: marigold flowers covering/coloring gravesites. Often shaped
Into the form of a cross as well.

12. Los Alfeñiques = Sugar Skulls
Skulls and skeletons are made out of candy.
Names: living or dead
Recognizing that one day all will be skeletons
Bring sweetness of life to your lips
Paper maché skulls

13. Una poema más
Es calavera el inglés, calavera el italiano, calavera fue el francés, lo mismo Maximiliano. El Pontífice Romano y todos los cardenales, reyes, duques, concejales y el jefe de la nación. En la tumba son iguales: calaveras del montón.

14. Translation
Skeleton is the Englishman, skeleton the Italian, skeleton was the French, the same for Maximiliano. The Pope and all of the Cardinals, Kings, Dukes, Aldermen and the Leaders of Nations. In the tomb they are all the same: a pile of skeletons.

15. Conclusión What is Day of the Dead? When is it celebrated?
Where is it celebrated?
How is it celebrated?
How can we compare this holiday to Halloween or Memorial Day?