Día de [los] Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is one of the most significant and meaningful celebrations in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Celebrated annually on November 1 & 2 in Mexico and spanning three days from October 31 to November 2 in Guatemala, this vibrant festival beautifully intertwines pre-Hispanic rituals and beliefs with Catholic practices and symbols. It is a time when living and deceased family members and friends come together in a spirit of communion and spiritual regeneration, often referred to as Todos Santos or All Saints' Day. As noted by Elizabeth Carmichael and Chlöe Sayer in Skeleton at the Feast, “As a time of reunion, there is nothing somber or macabre about the event: the returning come as spirits who have returned from another world, which for many Mexican Indians is very like this one.” This perspective highlights the belief that the worlds of the living and the dead exist in a state of permanent interaction, allowing for a celebration that honors both life and death.
The roots of Día de los Muertos can be traced back to Indigenous Mesoamerican peoples, who long before European contact, offered incense and food, including tamales, to the images and spirits of their ancestors. Following the encounter between European and Indigenous cultures, these practices merged with the Catholic celebration of All Saints’ Day, creating a unique blend of traditions. The rituals associated with Día de los Muertos involve meticulous preparations, including the construction of family altars dedicated to the deceased, known as ofrendas. These altars are adorned with vibrant decorations, prominently featuring marigold flowers (zempoalxochitl), which are believed to attract the souls of the departed.
In Guatemala, the festivities take on a unique character with the Kite Festival, where communities gather to showcase their intricately designed kites, some measuring over 40 feet. These vibrant displays fill the skies above cemeteries, creating a breathtaking tribute to those who have passed and reinforcing the belief that death is merely a transition to a new life. Through the integration of ancient traditions and Catholic practices, Día de los Muertos serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring connection between the living and the dead.
The welcoming back of the spirits is observed in households with the creation of ofrendas. The quality and degree of ornamentation of the ofrendas depend on regional traditions, family and individual wealth, recent deaths, or the year’s harvest. On the ofrenda, the main objects are symbolic of life’s elements: water, wind, fire, and earth:
Read more, The Meaning of the Altar, Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum Day of the Dead/ Día de los Muertos
Storytelling is a key ingredient to any ofrenda. Families gather together and spend time sharing their stories and their family histories with one another. This cultural tradition brings family together. Each member of the family contributes to the storytelling.
Today, ofrendas combine traditional items such as calacas, sugar skulls, or pan de muerto with silk marigold flowers, electric candles and digital photo frames. Ofrendas can honor family members or pop culture icons such as Frida Kahlo and Celia Cruz. They can be personal statements of loss or can make social and political statements. Although the Day of the Dead continues to be transformed in many ways, the underlying sense of commitment to honoring the deceased loved ones and celebrating life and death has remained.
Read more, Honoring Our Ancestors, Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum Day of the Dead/ Día de los Muertos
An ofrenda (trans. "offering") is an altar on which offerings are placed for Día de los Muertos to honor a loved one who has died. In addition to food and refreshments that are offered to the deceased loved one, ofrendas can be elaborately decorated with items such as:
(photograph by Chris Luengas)
Papel picado is a paper-based Mexican folk art with origins dating back to pre-Columbian Aztec culture.
Learn more about it here.
The Calavera, better known as sugar skulls in the U.S. are just what it sounds like. Skulls made from sugar. To learn more about las calaveras, read here.
Cempasuchil, known in English as marigolds, is a flower native to Mexico and a staple of ofrenda decoration. To learn about their significance, read here.
(photograph by Chris Luengas)
Accessories and decorations are a main element of every ofrenda. They are also an important part of the Mexican (and central American) household.
Music and dancing are important elements of the Day of the Dead tradition. Mariachi, corridos, jarocho, traditional sones are among the music that is performed to honor the spirits. In Mexico, traditional dances such as La Danza de los Viejitos (the dance of the little old men) and La Danza de los Tecuanes (the dance of the tigers/jaguars) are also performed. They add color and sound to the Day of the Dead celebrations.
The calavera (“skull” or, more broadly, “skeleton”) is one of the most recognizable features of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Yet another equally important calavera associated with the festivities is a more figurative variety: the literary calevera, a satirical poem meant to highlight the shortcomings of a living person, often accompanied by an illustration. The literary calaveras are short, rhyming poems, usually composed of four to twelves lines whose verse mocks the victim’s perceived weaknesses.
José Guadalupe Posada (1851-1913) was a Mexican illustrator whose engravings of satirical calaveras, which accompanied these humoristic poems, have become permanently associated with Day of the Dead imagery and literary culture[...]Posada’s calaveras reminded readers that life was short and that everyone, whether rich or poor, famous or anonymous, was ultimately made of the same bones.
His most famous image is perhaps his catrina (catrin, elegant or dandy), a female figure whose fancy clothes (typically a hat with flowers and a fashionable dress) mocked the upper-classes for their vanity. The skeleton’s hat was a fashionable accessory that showed a desire among the Mexican elite to copy European fashions. Posada’s catrina has become an icon of modern Day of the Dead imagery.
Continue reading, Funny Bones, Literary and artistic calaveras from Mexico’s most famous illustrator, José Guadalupe Posada (1851-1913)
The character, created by Posada in 1913, has traveled around the world and represents the way that we, as Mexicans, understand and represent death. Posada's La Catrina was just a face with a hat, symbolizing someone or something make-believe. It was Diego Rivera who gave the skull a body, in the mural "Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park." The skull is dressed in a European style, with a dress, stole and a large hat, representing Posada's critique of the society of the time.
However, the image of La Catrina also has pre-Hispanic influences, evoking characters such as Mictlantecuhtli, the god of death. The image of La Catrina is also associated with the sugar skulls, which are an offering to the dead. La Catrina is a symbol of syncretism between pre-Hispanic and colonial times; the Mexican and the European. It is also a figure that has transcended borders.
Day of the Dead
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The Day of the Dead is the most important annual celebration in Oaxaca, Mexico. Skillfully combining textual information and photographic imagery, this book begins with a discussion of the people of Oaxaca, their way of life, and their way of looking at the world. It then takes the reader through the celebration from the preparations that can begin months in advance through to the private gatherings in homes and finally to the cemetery where the villagers celebrate together -- both the living and the dead. The voices in the book are of those people who have participated in the Day of the Dead for as long as they can remember. There are no ghosts here. Only the souls of loved ones who have gone to the Village of the Dead and who are allowed to return once a year to be with their family. Very readable and beautifully illustrated, this book provides an extensive discussion of the people of Oaxaca, their way of life and their beliefs, which make the Day of the Dead logical and easily comprehensible.
Day of the Dead in the USA, Second Edition
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Honoring relatives by tending graves, building altars, and cooking festive meals has been a major tradition among Latin Americans for centuries. The tribute, "El Día de los Muertos," has enjoyed renewed popularity since the 1970s when Latinx activists and artists in the United States began expanding "Day of the Dead" north of the border with celebrations of performance art, Aztec danza, art exhibits, and other public expressions. Focusing on the power of public ritual to serve as a communication medium, this revised and updated edition combines a mix of ethnography, historical research, oral history, and critical cultural analysis to explore the manifold and unexpected transformations that occur when the tradition is embraced by the mainstream. A testament to the complex role of media and commercial forces in constructions of ethnic identity, Day of the Dead in the USA provides insight into the power of art and ritual to create community, transmit oppositional messages, and advance educational, political, and economic goals. Today Chicano-style Day of the Dead events take place in all fifty states. This revised edition provides new information about: The increase in events across the US, incorporating media coverage and financial aspects, Recent political movements expressed in contemporary Day of the Dead celebrations, including #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo Greater media coverage and online presence of the celebration in blogs, websites, and streaming video Día de los Muertos themes and iconography in video games and films The proliferation of commercialized merchandise such as home goods, apparel, face paints and jewelry at mainstream big box and web retailers, as well as the widespread proliferation of calavera-themed decorations and costumes for Halloween 24 new full color illustrations
Llewellyn's Little Book of the Day of the Dead
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Celebrate the revered Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos with this beautiful little book. Packed with activities, recipes, spells, and rituals, this pocket-sized guide is a must-have tool for honoring the sacred dead. Author Jaime Gironés shares authentic ways to respectfully enjoy this holiday, from creating an altar to baking pan de muerto (bread of the dead). Sharing his personal experiences and recommendations, Jaime guides you through the Day of the Dead's origins, history, and modern celebrations. Discover how to build an altar, set out your ancestors' favorite foods, and invite the spirits to a feast. Explore the significance of marigolds, sugar skulls, and monarch butterflies. You'll also learn how to say goodbye when celebrations are over. This book provides everything needed to honor the dead and share your love and abundance with them.
On the Path of Marigolds
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2021 Southwest Book Design Awards Best Photography/Art Book, Best Bilingual, and Best in Show for a hardcover book (New Mexico Book Association) 2019 Winner of the Gold Medal for Best Multicultural Book of the Year Foreword INDIES Award Finalist for Best Art Book of the Year from Latino Literacy Now's 2020 International Latino Book Awards Honorable Mention for the Best Arts Book category of the International Latino Book Awards Finalist for Best Multicultural book of the year award from the annual New Mexico/Arizona book awards One of the most enduring portrayals of Mexico's famous Day of the Dead ceremony. Photographer Ann Murdy has been documenting the celebrations around Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) in Mexico for more than twenty years. A native of Los Angeles, she first started collecting Chicano art in the 1990s and was drawn to Mexico by the vibrancy of its culture and traditions. She loved the rich colors she found everywhere such as the flowers adorning the ofrendas or altars to the dead to the dusky yellow of the marigolds lining pathways leading to the ofrendas in both private homes and cemeteries.As Murdy's hauntingly beautiful images show, in Mexico death is considered a part of life and something to be celebrated rather than feared. El día de los muertos (which actually lasts two days on November 1-2) is a time to gather with friends and families to feast, pray, dance, and honor the lives of those who have died. From the preparation of the food and flowers to the sanctification of the public and private spaces, to the ceremony itself, Murdy captures the spirit, beauty, and magic of this sacred observance.On the Path of Marigolds features ninety of Murdy's most stunning images of celebrations from three villages--Teotitlán del Valle in Oaxaca, Huaquechua in Puebla, and the communities around Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán--along with a conversation between her and Cesáro Moreno, Director of Visual Arts and Chief Curator of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, and an essay by Mexican-American writer Denise Chávez.
Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead
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Each October, as the Day of the Dead draws near, Mexican markets overflow with decorated breads, fanciful paper cutouts, and whimsical toy skulls and skeletons. To honor deceased relatives, Mexicans decorate graves and erect home altars. Drawing on a rich array of historical and ethnographic evidence, this volume reveals the origin and changing character of this celebrated holiday. It explores the emergence of the Day of the Dead as a symbol of Mexican and Mexican-American national identity. Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead poses a serious challenge to the widespread stereotype of the morbid Mexican, unafraid of death, and obsessed with dying. In fact, the Day of the Dead, as shown here, is a powerful affirmation of life and creativity. Beautifully illustrated, this book is essential for anyone interested in Mexican culture, art, and folklore, as well as contemporary globalization and identity formation.
Day of the Dead
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The art and tradition behind this unique and joyous Mexican celebration. The Day of the Dead Celebration is the most important holiday of the year in Mexico and parts of the American Southwest, a joyful time when families remember their dead. Day of the Dead provides a colorful look at the iconic folk art and family traditions that play a vital role in the event, which happens across the country from October 31 through November 2.
Shakespeare and Latinidad
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Shakespeare and Latinidad is a collection of scholarly and practitioner essays in the field of Latinx theatre that specifically focuses on Latinx productions and appropriations of Shakespeare's plays. It is the first truly comprehensive treatment of this style of adaptation, bringing together the diverse voices working in this field today including leading academics, playwrights and theatre practitioners. This blend of essays and interviews reflects the transdisciplinary synthesis of scholarship, dramaturgy and pedagogy that shapes Latinx engagement with Shakespeare.
Day of the Dead
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In this book, early fluent readers will learn about the history of Day of the Dead, including when, where, and who first celebrated it, its meaning, the traditions associated with it, including setting up altars, making sugar skulls and papel picado, and visiting cemeteries and graves of loved ones, and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world today. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn more about the history behind this popular holiday. A Take a Look! infographic features common altar offerings, sidebars present interesting, supplementary information, and an At a Glance recap offers a map and quick stats on the history of the holiday. Children can learn more about Day of the Dead using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Day of the Dead also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Day of the Dead is part of Jump!'s Holiday History series.
Day of the Dead
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An overview of Day of the Dead, from the origin of the celebration to how it is practiced today. Clear, interesting text and vibrant photos grab and hold readers' interest, and QR Codes in each chapter link to book-specific videos, activities, and more. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, a timeline, an infographic, Making Connections questions, a glossary, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. DiscoverRoo is an imprint of Pop!, a division of ABDO.
Day of the Dead
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Easy-to-read text paired with colorful photos and informative captions introduces readers to a cultural holiday, Day of the Dead. Readers will learn about the origin of the holiday and its Aztec roots. Traditions to honor the dead, including visiting loved ones' graves and decorating altars, are described. Also discussed are symbols and foods associated with Day of the Dead, such as skulls and pan de muerto. Features include table of contents, glossary with phonetic spellings, and index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.Buddy Books is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Day of the Dead
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El D#65533;a de los Muertos is the Mexican equivalent of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. During this festival, people build altars to loved ones who have died and gather around it to rekindle happy memories of that person. Graves and altars are decorated with bright flowers like marigold. Offerings of food and anything else that the deceased liked are also made.
Day of the Dead
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The Day of the Dead is a special holiday celebrated in many places like Mexico and parts of the United States to honor people who have died. It's celebrated between October 31 and November 2 and there are costumes, but no one says, trick-or-treat. There is candy, but this candy is shaped like coffins and skeletons. People picnic in cemeteries, go to parades, set off fireworks, and bake special breads and meals to remember friends and family members who have died.
Día de Muertos: Números
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From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual picture book centering on a Día de Muertos ofrenda (Day of the Dead altar), constructed annually to honor the memory and welcome the spirit of a loved one. The book uses a counting structure, from one to ten, to focus on family members and their offerings, with a double-gatefold finale opening to reveal the family gathered around the fully decorated ofrenda with all of their offerings. Included at the back of the book is a brief author's note that lends additional context on the holiday.
Daniela's Day of the Dead
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Daniela is preparing for the Day of the Dead--the first one since her grandpa died. She makes an ofrenda with Grandpa's favorite things and toy skeletons. Her family has a party to remember Grandpa.
Citlali and the Day of the Dead
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Children's Storybook Features: * 32 pages, 8 inches x 8 inches * Ages 4-8, PreK-Grade 3 Level Readers, Lexile 670L * Simple, easy-to-read pages with vibrant illustrations * Features side-by-side bilingual text to develop vocabulary * Includes after-reading crafts, writing prompts, and comprehension questions The Magic Of Reading: Introduce your child to the world of literature with this delightful story, Citlali and the Day of the Dead. This 32-page book features striking illustrations and bilingual text to create a love for reading in two languages. Hands On Learning: Citlali wants to pick the perfect item to remember Mama Elena for her first Day of the Dead. Find out what item she picks, and learn more about the traditions and festivities that surround this special holiday! Bilingual Learning: More than just an informative story, this children's book features side-by-side bilingual text in English and Spanish, as well as many before and after-reading activities like crafts, comprehension questions, and writing prompts. Leveled Reading: This early reading book engages preschoolers to third graders with leveled reading text, while telling an enlightening story that fosters reading comprehension and teaches new vocabulary in two languages. Why Rourke Educational Media: Since 1980, Rourke Publishing Company has specialized in publishing engaging and diverse non-fiction and fiction books for children in a wide range of subjects that support reading success on a level that has no limits.
My Family Celebrates Day of the Dead
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Day of the Dead is a holiday when families celebrate their loved ones who have died. Learn all about the customs of this holiday with text feature questions. Extend learning with a downloadable reading organizer.
Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
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The Day of the Dead (or Dia de los muertos) is a special Mexican holiday that honors loved ones who have passed away. Readers will learn about how people celebrate the holiday with the creation of altars and traditional foods. Complete with simple text and colorful photographs. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Abdo Kids Junior is an imprint of Abdo Kids, a division of ABDO. Written by native Spanish speakers--and immersion school educators.
Día de Los Muertos
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The Day of The Dead
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Everybody's Ethnic: Your Invisible Culture
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Aurora Downtown
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Sugar Grove - Todd Library
Adam Burke
(630) 466-7900, ext. 2421
aburke@waubonsee.edu
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