Day of the Dead

1
Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos
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Date

• November 1st Todo el Día de los Santos
• November 2nd Todo el Día de las Almas

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History

• The Indigenous people of Mexico believed that
  the animas of the dead returned each year to
  visit with their living relatives. They thought
  when mariposas del monarca returned to Mexico for
  the winter that they brought the spirits of
  departed with them.
• This tradition has been going on for over 3,000
  years. When people die everyone is sad, but
  Mexicans look at death in a different way. Día
  de los muertos is a time for rejoicing and
  remembering their loved ones. This holiday is
  celebrated in Mexico and parts of the U.S. still
  today.

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Los muertos

• Children (angelitos) are celebrated on November
  1st. Their graves are decorated with toys and
  colorful balloons.
• Adults are celebrated on November 2nd. Food,
  drinks, ornamental and personal belongings
  surround their ofrendas.

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Symbols

• pan de muerto
• skull shaped candies and treats
• marzipan death figures
• paper maché skeletons and skulls
• wreaths and crosses
• candles and lights
• marigolds (cempazuchiles, zempasúchils)

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Schedule

• graves and ofrendas are prepared by family
• candles are lit incense is burned
• chants and prayers are done for los muertos
• drinks and food are served like a picnic
• 6 pm bells ring summoning the dead go all night
  long
• when bells stop in the morning the families go
  home

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Vocabulary

• zempasúchil Indian word for a type of marigold
  used to guide spirits home
• pan de muerto rich coffee cake decorated with
  meringues to look like bones
• angelitos means little angels, the children are
  often referred to this on día de los muertos
• animas souls
• ofrenda altar
• calacas handmade skeleton figurines

8
(vocabulary continued)

• refranes sayings and poems
• papel picado Mexican folk art of cut paper
• mariposas del monarca monarch butterflies
• Todo el Día de los Santos All Saints Day
• Todo el Día de las Almas All Souls Day
• huesos bones
• los muertos the dead