1. The Day of the Dead
El día de
los muertos

2. Vamos a ver…

3. What is the day of the Dead?
+ 500 years ago - Spanish Conquistadors landed in Mexico; native Indians practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.

4. The Day of the Dead
Practiced by the local people for at least 3,000 years.
Spaniards try to stamp out ritual = unsuccessful.
Celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the USA today.

5. The Day of the Dead
It is a time when Mexican families celebrate and remember their dead, and the continuity of life.

6. The Day of the Dead
The original celebration can be traced to the festivities held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli
Goddess Mictecacihuatl ("Lady of the Dead")

7. When is the Day of the Dead?
Aztec calendar = the end of July and the beginning of August.
Spanish priests moved the ritual to coincide with Halloween.
As a result, the Mexicans now celebrate the Day of the Dead during the first two days of November.

8. Day of the dead masks: Caretas

9. What happens in the celebration?
Visits by families to the graves of their close kin.
At the gravesites, family members decorate the grave with flowers, have a picnic, and talk with other family and community members who have gathered.

10. Decorating the gravesite
Gravesites or family altars are decorated w/large, bright flowers & adorned with religious jewelry.

11. Decorations
Papel Picado

12. Las decoraciones
Velas/Candles

13. Calacas
Skeletons are often shown in everyday activities which depict a dead person’s profession or interests. Calacas are placed on altars.

14. Calacas

15. Eating
The meals prepared for the picnics are sumptuous, usually featuring meat dishes in spicy sauces, a special egg-batter bread, cookies, chocolate, and sugary confections in a variety of animal or skull shapes.

16. Eating
Pan de muerto

17. Eating
Sugar skulls

18. Socializing
Families remember the departed by telling stories about them.
The festive interaction between the living & the dead is an important social ritual and a way of recognizing the cycle of life and death.

19. A cycle?
The Day of the Dead is a time for the dead to return home and visit loved ones, feast on their favorite foods and listen to their favorite music.
In the homes, family members honor their deceased with ofrendas or offerings which may consist of photographs, bread, other foods, flowers, toys and other symbolic offerings.

20. Gravesites and Ofrendas

23. Artwork of the Day of the Dead

24. David Cation
Artist

25. Procession to the cemetery

26. Many towns have parades including processions on horseback

27. A group of músicos entertains at the cemetery

28. Calaveras - songs and poems about the holiday

29. The cemetery

31. Customs Around the World
In the USA, most people avoid talking about death.
Many other cultures around the world have rituals for remembering loved ones.

32. Glossary
alfenique - a special confection used to fashion skulls, fruits and other figures.
angelitos - the souls of the children who have died, literally "little angels"
atole - an ancient drink made from corn meal and water flavored with various fruits.
calavera - a skull, also a slang term for "daredevil"

33. Glossary calaveras - songs and poems about the festival
careta -a face mask
cempazuchitl - a yellow marigold, the symbol of death
copalli - a scented resin used to make candles

34. Glossary
mole - a thick sauce made from a variety of ingredients including chilis, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, chocolate/fruit.
ofrenda - an offering, refers to the goods set out on the altars
pan de los muertos - bread of the dead

35. Sources
Images and information taken from and and
Images and information taken from and and