Día de los Día de los MuertosMuertos

Los Dias de Los MuertosLos Dias de Los Muertos What is it?What is it?

Los Dias de los Muertos, the Los Dias de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexico holiday traditional Mexico holiday honoring the dead. honoring the dead.

In the past, this period In the past, this period marked the time when the marked the time when the deceased could return to the deceased could return to the world of the living and visit world of the living and visit their loved ones, but now it is their loved ones, but now it is usually a time to celebrate, usually a time to celebrate, remember, and pray for their remember, and pray for their souls. souls.

Los Dias de los Muertos is not Los Dias de los Muertos is not a sad time, but instead a time a sad time, but instead a time of remembering and rejoicing.of remembering and rejoicing.

When is it?When is it?

Different categories of deceased individuals are Different categories of deceased individuals are celebrated on different days.celebrated on different days.

October 28thOctober 28th: People who died violently, such as those : People who died violently, such as those who were victims of accidents, homicides, or people who who were victims of accidents, homicides, or people who committed suicide. committed suicide. October 29thOctober 29th: Those who died unbaptized.: Those who died unbaptized.October 31stOctober 31st: Children who died after being baptized. : Children who died after being baptized. (It is believed that upon death, they instantly became (It is believed that upon death, they instantly became little angels and are thereafter known as little angels and are thereafter known as angelitosangelitos.) .) November 1stNovember 1st: All adults not covered in another : All adults not covered in another category. category.

On October 31st, it is said that the On October 31st, it is said that the angelitosangelitos come back come back at 3pm and return to their graves at 3pm on November at 3pm and return to their graves at 3pm on November 1st, which is the time the adults spirits return to the 1st, which is the time the adults spirits return to the world.world.

MisconceptionsMisconceptions It is not a Mexican Halloween! It is not a Mexican Halloween! Dia de los muertosDia de los muertos is more of a festive or is more of a festive or

family event. They pray, clean off family family event. They pray, clean off family graves and decorate them. graves and decorate them.

The Day of the Dead is not a cult. This The Day of the Dead is not a cult. This ritual has nothing to do with cults. ritual has nothing to do with cults. It isIt is a a Catholic ChristianCatholic Christian ritual intermixed with ritual intermixed with folk culture. Going to mass is an essential folk culture. Going to mass is an essential aspect of this celebration.aspect of this celebration.

Altars or Altars or ofrendasofrendas are not for worshiping are not for worshiping but for offering our love and remembering but for offering our love and remembering our departed family members.our departed family members.

Altars - Altars - OfrendasOfrendas In the homes families arrange In the homes families arrange ofrenda'sofrenda's or "altars" with flowers, or "altars" with flowers,

bread, fruit and candy. Pictures of the deceased family members are bread, fruit and candy. Pictures of the deceased family members are added. In the late afternoon special all night burning candles are lit - added. In the late afternoon special all night burning candles are lit - it is time to remember the departed - the old ones, their parents and it is time to remember the departed - the old ones, their parents and grandparents. grandparents.

How the deceased lived their life determines how the friends and How the deceased lived their life determines how the friends and family should decorate the altar (family should decorate the altar (ofrendaofrenda) or grave. ) or grave.

Altars should include:Altars should include: A picture of the one being  remembered A picture of the one being  remembered Items they were fond of Items they were fond of Something to snack on Something to snack on Candles Candles Flowers Flowers GiftsGifts

The OfrendaThe Ofrenda The The ofrendaofrenda is a table or area decorated to hold is a table or area decorated to hold

the offerings for the spirits. Especially in the offerings for the spirits. Especially in Oaxaca, it is considered a great craft, and there Oaxaca, it is considered a great craft, and there is an is an ofrendaofrenda competition in the cemetery. competition in the cemetery.

Once the spirits return, they will be hungry and Once the spirits return, they will be hungry and thirsty after their long journey. Special foods thirsty after their long journey. Special foods will be prepared and set out on the will be prepared and set out on the ofrendaofrenda. . Tamales, pumkin cooked with brown sugar, Tamales, pumkin cooked with brown sugar, cane sugar and tejocotes, cane sugar and tejocotes, pan de muertopan de muerto, , chocolate, nuts and fresh fruit, as well as local chocolate, nuts and fresh fruit, as well as local specialties like specialties like molemole. .

Sand Sculptures - Sand Sculptures - Tapetes Tapetes de Arenasde Arenas

Another decorative way to Another decorative way to honor the dead is honor the dead is Tapete Tapete de Arenade Arena, sand sculptures, , sand sculptures, are colored "carpets" made are colored "carpets" made from dyed sawdust, sand, from dyed sawdust, sand, seeds, and flower petals. seeds, and flower petals. Like the Like the ofrendaofrenda, making , making the the tapetetapete is almost an art is almost an art form and there is a form and there is a competition for the best competition for the best tapete de Arena tapete de Arena in the city. in the city. The sand sculptures are The sand sculptures are beautiful and very beautiful and very delicate; they and the delicate; they and the ofrendasofrendas make going from make going from shop to shop along the shop to shop along the streets of Oaxaca a treat streets of Oaxaca a treat during during dias de los muertosdias de los muertos. .

TraditionsTraditions

Pan de los Pan de los MuertosMuertos Special loaves of Special loaves of

bread are baked, bread are baked, called called pan de pan de muertosmuertos, and , and decorated with decorated with "bones. "bones.

This sweet bread This sweet bread is a treat for both is a treat for both the dead and the the dead and the living. living.

Copal Copal A type of incense A type of incense

used since the used since the Mayans. Mayans.

It is made from the It is made from the dried resin of the dried resin of the copal tree. copal tree.

The incense is The incense is somewhat smoky somewhat smoky when burned and when burned and has sort of a pine has sort of a pine scent. scent.

Traditions: Flowers Traditions: Flowers La flor de Cempazuchitl La flor de Cempazuchitl

During los Dias de los During los Dias de los Muertos the yellow marigold Muertos the yellow marigold symbolizes the short symbolizes the short duration of life. duration of life.

In Oaxaca, there is a In Oaxaca, there is a whole street lined with whole street lined with flower vendors. The flower vendors. The traditional flower of traditional flower of dia dia de los muertosde los muertos is an is an orange marigold. The orange marigold. The flower can be seen flower can be seen walking down the street walking down the street in doorways, covering in doorways, covering ofrendasofrendas, and at , and at churches. churches.

Traditions: Papel PicadoTraditions: Papel Picado

Papel Picado is a Papel Picado is a traditional art used to traditional art used to decorate homes, decorate homes, businesses, markets and businesses, markets and altars in preparation for altars in preparation for the Day of the Dead. the Day of the Dead.

The thin tissue paper The thin tissue paper images are usually cut in images are usually cut in large quantities and large quantities and hung in repetitious hung in repetitious patterns.patterns.

Traditions: SkeletonsTraditions: Skeletons Skeletons and skulls are found everywhere. Skeletons and skulls are found everywhere.

Chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, and white Chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, and white chocolate skeletons. chocolate skeletons.

Handmade skeleton figurines, called cHandmade skeleton figurines, called calacasalacas, , are especially popular. are especially popular. CalacasCalacas usually show an usually show an active and joyful afterlife. Figures of musicians, active and joyful afterlife. Figures of musicians, generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in their white bridal gowns marching down the their white bridal gowns marching down the aisles with their boney grooms. aisles with their boney grooms.

The The calaveracalavera, or skeleton, is an important , or skeleton, is an important symbol during symbol during dia de muertosdia de muertos. . CalaverasCalaveras decorate the inside of shops and shop decorate the inside of shops and shop windows windows

Stores and shops in the stalls of the markets Stores and shops in the stalls of the markets set up large displays like the one above to set up large displays like the one above to show off their show off their muertosmuertos wares. There are a wares. There are a variety of decorations, candy, and bread to variety of decorations, candy, and bread to chose from to prepare for the chose from to prepare for the Day of the Day of the DeadDead feast and/or to decorate the tombs and feast and/or to decorate the tombs and gravestones of loved ones.gravestones of loved ones.

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls Candy, candy, candy. Candy Candy, candy, candy. Candy

flows through Oaxaca during flows through Oaxaca during el el Dia de los Muertos Dia de los Muertos and most of and most of the candy displayed and eaten the candy displayed and eaten takes the form of sugar skulls. takes the form of sugar skulls. There are many different ways There are many different ways to make these sugar skulls. to make these sugar skulls. Some are large and thin, easy Some are large and thin, easy to break apart and snack on as to break apart and snack on as you are making your way you are making your way through the city. Some are through the city. Some are coated with sesame seeds and coated with sesame seeds and nuts. Some are chocolate and nuts. Some are chocolate and decorated with hard candies. decorated with hard candies. But most of those that are used But most of those that are used to decorate the tombs are to decorate the tombs are small, hard sugar skulls, small, hard sugar skulls, painted with frosting and bits of painted with frosting and bits of foil. foil.

And the And the cascarones (the cascarones (the colorful painted colorful painted eggshells filled eggshells filled with confetti)with confetti)

Cemeteries Cemeteries You hear a lot about the You hear a lot about the

crazy parades of crazy parades of dia de dia de los muertoslos muertos, but the , but the cemeteries are just as, if cemeteries are just as, if not more, spectacular. not more, spectacular. Flowers, candy, bread Flowers, candy, bread and drink adorn the and drink adorn the tombs and thousands and tombs and thousands and thousands of candles cast thousands of candles cast an eerie, romantic glow an eerie, romantic glow on the families and on the families and friends mourning and friends mourning and celebrating their lost celebrating their lost loved ones.loved ones.

Parades / Parades / ComparsasComparsas These are another These are another

important part of the important part of the festivities and take festivities and take place throughout the place throughout the streets of cities and streets of cities and towns. Dancing and towns. Dancing and costumes are a costumes are a necessity for these necessity for these events. events.

Children, adults and Children, adults and the elderly all the elderly all participate in the participate in the comparsas. comparsas.

LinksLinks

Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and Día de los Muertos: For Teachers and StudentsStudents http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/

teachers/ teachers/ Common misconceptions about the Common misconceptions about the

Day of the DeadDay of the Dead http://www.inside-mexico.com/noes.htm http://www.inside-mexico.com/noes.htm

History, Traditions, and SignificanceHistory, Traditions, and Significance http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/dead.htm http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/dead.htm