el día de los muertos
TRANSCRIPT
This special holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and Central America dates back to the Aztecs. It is a time when the souls of the departed return to earth
for a visit and from October 31 to November 2 families join together in remembrance of their loved
ones.
Lasky, Kathryn, Days of the Dead, Hyperion Books for Children, 1994.
Families visit graveyards, clean & repaint the graves of their loved ones, bring offerings, light candles, & share the family news of the past year during the
night vigil.
Lasky, Kathryn, Days of the Dead, Hyperion Books for Children, 1994.
Families also construct altars (ofrendas) in their homes to
honor their deceased loved ones.
Flowers, especially marigolds decorate the ofrendas. The marigold
(zempasuchil) has a brilliant yellow-orange color and is considered the symbolic
flower of death to the Aztecs. Perhaps because
once the marigold is cut, it dies very quickly.
The petals of the flowers are also scattered along paths
from the graves to the altars so the dead souls can find
their way home.
Candles, besides their religious symbolism, are placed on the ofrenda to light and guide the way
of the souls to the altar. Copal incense is also burned to help the souls find their way home.
Typical foods found on Day of the Dead altars are chocolate, fruit, favorite foods of the
deceased, mole (a thick sauce made from chilies), tamales, atole (an ancient drink made from cornmeal & water), water (for the thirsty souls after their long journey), and traditional
liquors.
Tamales consist of corn masa filled with shredded meat, vegetables or fruit, then wrapped with corn
husks and steamed or baked.
Many consider Mole to be the national dish of Mexico. It features a unique blend of flavors and spices including
chile powder, nuts, and believe it or not, chocolate!
Pan de muertos (bread of the dead) is a traditional food served on the Day of the Dead. The sweet loaves are decorated with crossed bones and
sprinkled with sugar.
Papel Picado is the traditional Mexican art of cut paper. Artists
use a hammer and chisel to “punch” designs out of stacks of colored tissue paper--up to 50
layers thick. Designs can portray people, animals, flowers, lettering,
and lattice-work. Many papel picado are made especially for the Day of the Dead. The papel picado made
for this festival include skeletal figures engaging in everyday
activities of the living. Individual banners are strung together to
create festive and colorful decorations for the celebration.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1506/papic.html
Alfiñique Sugar Skulls are a traditional folk art from Central and Southern Mexico used to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Sugar skulls are purchased from vendors in the special markets set up before the
holiday in the plazas of Mexican villages. The people of Mexico use the sugar skulls to decorate their home altars. Often the name of the deceased is written in
colored icing on the skull.
The skulls are made out of a sugar-almond paste that is made with refined sugar, egg whites, and
lime juice. The paste is pressed into molds similar to the process of molding clay. The skulls are then decorated with pastel icing and foil decorations.
These skulls are also treats for children during this festival.
http://www.mexonline.com/OAXACA/muertos2.htmhttp://www.casabonampak.com/day.html
http://www.azcentral.com/rep/dead/photos/pc1.html Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane, Day of the Dead A Mexican-American Celebration, Holiday House, NY, 1994.
http://www.acabtu.com.mx/diademuertos/hollowsday/thealtar.html
Lasky, Kathryn, Days of the Dead, Hyperion Books for Children, 1994. http://www.entropia.com.mx/~jmgil/img/muertitos2.jpg
http://www.csumb.edu/events/dead/altar.html http://www.elpayaso.com/gwater.htm
Whimsical skeleton toys are also popular during this festival. These “calaveras” are made to
remind us to take life in a jovial manner because death is inevitable and we are all mortal.
Toys include skeletons with movable legs and coffins with skulls which pop out when one opens them or pulls a
string.
Also popular are beaded necklaces, each bead of which is a clay skull.
Parades and festivities greet the dead during
this festival. Paraders often wear skeleton
costumes or black robes with skull
masks.
Lasky, Kathryn, Days of the Dead, Hyperion Books for Children, 1994.
The Day of the Dead is not a sad time, but rather it is a time to celebrate life and to remember, and
even mock death. The presence of deceased loved ones is thought of as a blessing and brings joy
rather than pain to their families. The loved ones have come back for an annual visit, and everyone
celebrates.
Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane, Day of the Dead A Mexican-American Celebration, Holiday House, NY, 1994.
José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) was a Mexican artist, folk illustrator, and political cartoonist. He produced
wonderful illustrations depicting death in the everyday life of Mexican people. His satirical and humorous vision of
death has been a source of artistic inspiration for Mexican artists and his art has become almost synonymous with the
Day of the Dead.
La Calavera Catrina (the skeleton of the fashionable lady) is the creation of José Guadalupe
Posada. Originally he created La Catrina to illustrate the popular song "La cucaracha". Later he used this image to parody overdressed Mexican ladies, that at
the time, had an obsession for everything French. Today Catrina is a famed Day of the Dead
icon and has been depicted by many artists since she was created by Posada in the late 1800s.
When the holiday is over and the spirits have departed, the families are happy and at peace, knowing they have made the souls of the dead
feel loved and remembered.
Lasky, Kathryn, Days of the Dead, Hyperion Books for Children, 1994.
We celebrated el Día de los Muertos
in many ways in the classroom.
5th graders made skull mobiles. We hung them in the
classroom.
The 6th graders worked very hard making decorations for a
typical altar in honor of deceased loved ones.
It was decorated with candles,
incense, flowers, sugar skulls, fruit, Bread of the Dead & favorite items of the deceased.
We had a party
to celebrate this special festival. For
treats we had pan de
muertos, corn muffins,
Mexican rice, & quesadillas.
¡Delicoso!
The 7th graders decorated sugar skulls to place on
the altar.
Of course, the 7th
graders also had a little party
to celebrate!
!
The 8th grade students visited the 1st graders & talked to them about
the Day of the Dead. The 1st
graders learned about this festival in their classroom & in Art class.
Together the students made & decorated dancing skeletons.
The students in the After-School Spanish class also celebrated the Day of the Dead. They read stories, made skull puppets, and made potato skull prints.