2. History
• Los Dias de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a
traditional Mexico holiday honoring the dead.
• It is not a sad time, but instead a time of
remembering and rejoicing.
• Gatherings of family and friends to pray for and
remember friends and family members who have
died
• National Holiday in Mexico but it is celebrated all
over the world
• The celebration takes place on November 1st and
2nd
3. Activities
• dancing with colorful costumes, often
with skull-shaped masks and devil
masks in the plaza or garden of the
town.
• Parades
– people gather around the streets to
watch the processions of marchers in
costume march down the street
representing death.
4. Traditions
• Skeletons
– Chocolate skulls, marzipan coffins, and white chocolate
skeletons. Handmade skeleton figurines. These usually show
an active and joyful afterlife.
• Flowers
– the yellow marigold symbolizes the short duration of life.
– Wreaths made of flowers, both real and plastic, are often
placed on the grave sites.
– Other flowers: white amaryllis, wild orchids, baby's breath
and ruby coxcombs
• Food
– Pan De Los Muertos- A sweet bread is baked and
decorated with skulls.
5. Papel Picado
• Papel Picado is a traditional art used
to decorate homes, businesses,
markets and altars in preparation for
the Day of the Dead.
• Thin tissue paper is used in repetition
for decoration.
6. October 31
Infants and children who have
died are angelitos, or "little
angels." They follow the path of
marigolds home, where their
families have altars with pan de
muertos, sweet tamales and sugar
calaveras.
November 1
The angelitos must be gone. The
offerings at the altars are
appointed for the "faithful dead"
or adult souls with pan de
muertos, tamales, mole,
cigarettes and tequila.
November 2
Mummers run around town
wearing masks to chase the
stubborn souls back to the land of
the dead.
7. Altars
• families arrange ofrenda's or "altars" with flowers, bread, fruit
and candy.
• Pictures of the deceased family members are added.
• In the afternoon, all night burning candles are lit - it is time to
remember the departed - the old ones, their parents and
grandparents.
• Altars should include:
– A picture of the one being remembered
– Items they were fond of
– Something to snack on
– Candles
– Flowers
– Gifts
