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Día de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. This special holiday originated in Mexico. People gather to celebrate their family and friends who have passed away. It is a time for joyful celebration not a sad time for mourning.
Families make altars called ofrendas decorated with many symbols and the deceased's favorite possessions. People remember funny events and tell good stories about the dead. You have 45 minutes to solve this breakout and learn about this special holiday, Día de los Muertos.
In preparation for Día de los Muertos, (Day of the Dead), many people set up an ofrenda (altar) inside their homes. This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and parts of Latin America to honor loved ones who have died. Loved ones set up a candlelit altar so spirits can find their way back to their relatives. Most altars have the following items:
Calaveras (sugar skulls)
Calaveras (sugar skulls)
Flor de Muerto (marigolds)
Papel Picado (perforated paper)
Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead)
Salt
Candles
Photographs and the favorite possessions of the deceased
Calaveras (Sugar Skulls)
Sugar skulls are often made of sugar, meringue powder, and water. The mixture is molded into the shape of a skull. The skulls are then decorated with brightly colored icing. “The sugar symbolizes the sweetness of life.”
Calaveras and Calacas
One of the most recognizable symbols of Día de los Muertos are the sugar skulls and skeletons. You will also find miniature skulls placed everywhere. They are usually made out of plastic or clay.
Calacas (Skeletons)
In the weeks leading up to Day of the Dead, shops and markets in Mexico are filled with skeletons. They can be made of wood or paper maché. They are dressed up and posed in many whimsical and everyday activities. You can see the calacas playing the guitar, taking a bath, going fishing, or getting married.
Ofrenda
For Día de los Muertos, the ofrenda in English is called an altar. The altar is built to honor lost loved ones.
Photos are placed on the ofrenda as a way to draw the spirits of the deceased so they can cross over and celebrate. Usually grandparents, family members, friends, and other loved ones are remembered on the Day of the Dead.
Traditional Catrina (skull) Makeup
One of the traditions of Día de los Muertos is painting faces that resemble a skeleton. The face is painted with bright colors and shapes adding life to the caricature. Sometimes gemstones, sequins, and cosmetic glitter are added.
Papel Picado
San Salvador Huixcolotla is a town in the Mexican state of Puebla. It is the birthplace of this Mexican folk art. Papel picado is made by cutting intricate designs into sheets of tissue paper. Papel picado banners are hung up to decorate for many festivities, like Dia de los Muertos, Easter, and Christmas.
In English, Papel picado is called "perforated paper" or "pecked paper."
Pan de Muerto
In English, Pan de Muerto is the bread of the dead. It is a soft and sweet bread designed with a circle and limbs to represent the shape of a skull and crossbones. The bread is finished with a dusting of sugar. It can be placed at the altar for hungry souls to partake in.
Salt
Salt is set out in the pattern of a cross on the altar. The salt is placed to cleanse the spirits and purify their souls during the following year.
Marigolds
It is believed that the spirits of the dead visit the living during the Día de los Muertos. Marigold flowers guide the souls of the dead to the altars. These flowers are brightly colored and have a very pungent scent.
Candles
Each soul is represented by a lit candle. An extra one is usually placed on the altar for the forgotten soul.
There is probably no more iconic symbol for the Day of the Dead than the calavera or the skull. Just how many bones are in a human skull?
Sugar Skull Photo Credit: https://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/how-to-make-sugar-skulls-calavera-de-azucar/c12860df-02bc-4901-a2e4-46efbf570322
Ofrenda Photo Credit: Peggy Reimers (Location is a local restaurant near TCEA I often go to lunch - Javi's Best of Tex Mex on East Ben White Blvd. Austin, TX
Day of the Dead Cookies Photo Credit: Nicole Danielson posted on Flickr
All other photos courtesy of Pixabay
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