Los Dias De Los Los Dias De Los MuertosMuertos

Warm-UpWarm-Up

Name the special holiday Name the special holiday celebration that is occurring in celebration that is occurring in Mexico this week.Mexico this week.

Explain what you know about Explain what you know about this holiday.this holiday.

At the end of this lesson you will be At the end of this lesson you will be able to…able to…

Identify where and when Identify where and when Los Dias de Los Los Dias de Los MuertosMuertos occurs occurs

Explain the customs and traditions behind Explain the customs and traditions behind the holidaythe holiday

Compare/Contrast this holiday to Compare/Contrast this holiday to HalloweenHalloween

¿Cuàndo es?¿Cuàndo es?

Los Dias de los Muertos sonLos Dias de los Muertos son

31 de octubre a 2 de noviembre31 de octubre a 2 de noviembre

¿Què es?¿Què es?

Los Dias de los Muertos is a time Los Dias de los Muertos is a time when Hispanic families come to pay when Hispanic families come to pay tribute to and remember those friends tribute to and remember those friends and family members who have died.and family members who have died.

It is a combination of the Aztec It is a combination of the Aztec harvest and death rituals and the harvest and death rituals and the beliefs of the Spaniards. beliefs of the Spaniards.

¿Què es?¿Què es?

The early inhabitants of Mexico believed The early inhabitants of Mexico believed that when someone died they could return that when someone died they could return as a spirit once a year. as a spirit once a year.

They believe that the spirits return to Earth They believe that the spirits return to Earth on the wings of the Monarch Butterfly (who on the wings of the Monarch Butterfly (who just so happens migrates south through just so happens migrates south through Mexico this time of year)Mexico this time of year)

¿Què es?¿Què es?

The people go to the graveyards during this time The people go to the graveyards during this time to wash and decorate the graves. This helps the to wash and decorate the graves. This helps the spirits find their way.spirits find their way.

The people will spend all night at the graves The people will spend all night at the graves decorating and celebrating.decorating and celebrating.

Afterwards a trail of marigolds and candles are Afterwards a trail of marigolds and candles are left to direct the spirit to the house containing the left to direct the spirit to the house containing the altar.altar.

¿Què es?¿Què es? An altar is created in each house which An altar is created in each house which

celebrates the deceased.celebrates the deceased.

On this altar family members have photos of the On this altar family members have photos of the deceased along with their favorite foods, drinks, deceased along with their favorite foods, drinks, and music.and music.

The goal is that if the spirit is happy it will stay The goal is that if the spirit is happy it will stay for the holiday.for the holiday.

Before the family eats they always allow some Before the family eats they always allow some time for the spirit to “eat and drink” the meal.time for the spirit to “eat and drink” the meal.

Las FotosLas Fotos

AltarsAltars

AltarsAltars

The altars are suppose to represent the deceased. They usually contain the person’s favorite food, music,drink and possible clothing. Pan de muertos is also usuallybaked and left at the altar.

GravesGraves

The villagers go to the graves andclean them up. Then they decorate them with flowers and pictures. Thevillagers will remain at the graves all nighthaving celebrations with food and musicians. Afterwards they create a pathof marigolds to help the deceased findtheir way from the graves to the altars.

MarigoldsMarigolds

Marigolds are considered to bethe flowers of the dead. It isbelieved that the spirits are attractedto the smell of the marigold. That iswhy these flowers are used on thegraves and the altars.

Otra partes…Otra partes…

Although participants dress in costume Although participants dress in costume during this holiday the costumes are not during this holiday the costumes are not like the ones you might see during like the ones you might see during Halloween.Halloween.

Most costumes are traditional masks Most costumes are traditional masks called calaveras in which they resemble called calaveras in which they resemble skeletons.skeletons.

During the holiday businesses will During the holiday businesses will decorate their window displays with decorate their window displays with everyday scenes like weddings, children everyday scenes like weddings, children playing or people cooking a meal.playing or people cooking a meal.

However all of the characters are However all of the characters are skeletons.skeletons.

Also during this time the children will do Also during this time the children will do something similar to trick or treating.something similar to trick or treating.

A group of children will get together and create a A group of children will get together and create a makeshift coffin. The one child will lay inside the makeshift coffin. The one child will lay inside the coffin. coffin.

The other children will carry it around the town The other children will carry it around the town stopping by the businesses and houses.stopping by the businesses and houses.

People will throw treats into the coffin like candy, People will throw treats into the coffin like candy, flowers, toys and money.flowers, toys and money.

Afterwards the children split the goodies.Afterwards the children split the goodies.

Las FotosLas Fotos

CalaverasCalaveras

MascarasMascaras

Pan de MuertosPan de Muertos

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls

Sugar skulls are just that skulls made of Sugar skulls are just that skulls made of sugar and sometimes chocolate.sugar and sometimes chocolate.

They are lavishly decorated and placed on They are lavishly decorated and placed on the altar.the altar.

However some of the skulls are created However some of the skulls are created for consumption.for consumption.

It is seen as good luck for a child to eat a It is seen as good luck for a child to eat a sugar skull that has been decorated with sugar skull that has been decorated with his or her name on it.his or her name on it.

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls

How is Los Dias de Los How is Los Dias de Los Muertos different from Muertos different from

Halloween?Halloween?

Halloween is based on a medival Halloween is based on a medival European concept of death, and is European concept of death, and is populated by demons, witches and other populated by demons, witches and other images of terror-all of them negative.images of terror-all of them negative.

Los Dias de Los Muertos, in contrast, is Los Dias de Los Muertos, in contrast, is distinctly different. It is a uniquely Indo-distinctly different. It is a uniquely Indo-Hispanic custom that demonstrated a Hispanic custom that demonstrated a strong sense of love and respect for one’s strong sense of love and respect for one’s ancestors. It celebrates the continuance of ancestors. It celebrates the continuance of life, family relationships, and community life, family relationships, and community solidarity- all positive concepts. solidarity- all positive concepts.

MiraMira

Los Dias de Los Los Dias de Los MuertosMuertos

H:\day of the dead\day of the dead.asx

Wrap- UpWrap- Up

¿Cuàndo son Los Dias De Los Muertos?¿Cuàndo son Los Dias De Los Muertos?

¿Què es Los Dias De Los Muertos?¿Què es Los Dias De Los Muertos?

Digame los diferencias acerca de Los Dias Digame los diferencias acerca de Los Dias De Los Muertos y Halloween.De Los Muertos y Halloween.

Day 2Day 2

Warm- UpWarm- Up

¿Cuàndo son Los Dias De Los Muertos?¿Cuàndo son Los Dias De Los Muertos?

¿Què es Los Dias De Los Muertos?¿Què es Los Dias De Los Muertos?

Digame los diferencias acerca de Los Dias Digame los diferencias acerca de Los Dias De Los Muertos y Halloween.De Los Muertos y Halloween.

At the end of this lesson you will be At the end of this lesson you will be able to…able to…

Identify where and when Identify where and when Los Dias de Los Los Dias de Los MuertosMuertos occurs occurs

Explain the customs and traditions behind Explain the customs and traditions behind the holidaythe holiday

Compare/Contrast this holiday to Compare/Contrast this holiday to HalloweenHalloween

Las ActividadesLas Actividades