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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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