EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

VOCABULARIO I

¿CUÁNDO? & ¿DÓNDE?

Day of the Dead is an interesting holiday celebrated

in central and southern Mexico during the chilly days

of November 1 & 2. Even though this coincides with

the Catholic holiday called All Soul's & All Saint’s Day,

the indigenous people have combined this with their

own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved

ones.

OFRENDASThe word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also

called altares or altars, but they are not for worshiping.

PAN DE MUERTOis a type of bread traditionally baked in Mexico during the

weeks leading up to the Día de los Muertos. It is a sweetened soft

bread shaped like a bun, often decorated with bone-like pieces.

CALACAA calaca (a colloquial Mexican Spanish name for

skeleton) is a figure of a skull or skeleton (usually

human) commonly used for decoration during the

Mexican Day of the Dead festival, although they

are made all year round.

CEMPAZUCHITLCempazuchitl o zenpasuchitl (del nahuatl Cempōhualxōchitl

que significa "veinte flores“) Cempazuchitl is a yellow marigold,

the symbol of death, also known as cempasuchil or zempasuchitl

used in Day Of The Dead celebrations.

ALFENIQUESThe Alfeñique fair or feria del Alfeñique is an annual event

that takes place in the city of Toluca, Mexico in which vendors

sell traditional sugar skulls with names labeled on the forehead,

as well as candy in a variety of shapes, in order to celebrate the

Mexican holiday Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Chocolate

and sugar skulls are used to decorate altars dedicated to the

dead during the celebration. The fair starts in the middle of

October and lasts up to the beginning of November.

CASCARONESCascarones or confetti eggs are festive, hollowed-out chicken

eggs filled with confetti or small toys, originating in China. In

Spanish, cáscara means eggshell. Cascarones are similar to the

Easter eggs popular in many other countries.

PAPEL PICADO

Papel picado ("perforated paper") is a decorative

craft made out of paper cut into elaborate designs.

Although it is a Mexican folk art, papel picado is

used as a holiday decoration in many countries. 

COPAL

Copal is the traditional incense made from the

resin of the copal tree.

ANGELITOS

"Day of the Little Angels” is celebrated on

November 1st for all children who had passed away.

CALAVERAS

JOSÉ GUADALUPE POSADA

Jose Guadalupe Posada: (1852–1913) was a

Mexican cartoonist illustrator and artist whose

work has influenced many Latin American artists

and cartoonists because of its satirical acuteness

and political engagement.