HISTORY OF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

THE MEXICAS (AZTECS) AND

MAYAS

Mesoamerica (What is today Mexico, Northern Central America)

The month of August was dedicated to the dead

Celebration and return of those

who had died

COMBINING OF TWO CULTURES

In the 15th Century the Spanish arrived

and brought with them

Catholicism, and connected the

indigenous beliefs and tradition with

All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day,

celebrated Nov. 1 and 2

Current Traditions and Celebrations of Día de los Muertos

Cameron May

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

Current Traditions

Individuals build altars in their homes in order to honor their loved ones

These altars have ofrendas, such as candles and items that remind them of their loved ones

The Ofrendas also include Copal (traditional incense), religious imagery, and the four essential elements of nature - earth, wind, water, and fire -in different forms

Mexican Marigolds are very common during this time for in homes and on the altars

They are known to help guide the souls back to the living world

Making skulls (Calaveras) that are sugar or ceramic. These honor the nature of life that is continuous

Baking Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead) This is an offering to the souls when they come back and for them to

feast on

Papel picado (pierced paper) is beautiful Mexican paper that is made and hung around

It represents the fragility that life is

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

Current Celebrations

Individuals wear makeup and costumes Often, they dress up as Catrina, from Diego Rivera’s mural “Dream

of a Sunday afternoon in Alameda Park”

Many people also wear shells and other things to make noise This is to awaken the dead and keep them close

They sing and dance, hold parades, parties, and they make offerings to their loved ones

The largest Day of the Dead celebration has been staged in New York for over 12 years

It is by the Nonprofit cultural organization: Mexican Culture Without Borders

The most authentic traditions are held in Mexico, but the styles can differ by the region

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

Sources

https://blog.remitly.com/lifestyle-culture/dia-de-los-muertos-traditions/

https://www.aesu.com/south-america-travel-tips/traditions-customs-dia-de-los-muertos/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/mexico/top-ten-day-of-dead-mexico/

Attitudes Towards the DeadDía De Los Muertos

Jayden Harrington

Día De Los Muertos Beliefs

• The belief is that the souls of the deceased come back and visit living family

and loved ones

• November 1st and 2nd are when the lives of the deceased are honored

• It is a celebration of the lives of those who have passed, not to mourn their

deaths

Traditions-families visit gravesites of loved ones and clean/ decorate the area

-Often candles, flowers, favorite food(s) of the deceased, dancing, singing, and so much more celebration is found at the gravesites

-ofrendas are created to honor passed loved ones; these are decorated altars that honor the deceased

“To live in hearts we

leave behind is not to

die.” -Thomas

Campbell

Citations

Barraza, H. “The Day of the Dead- November 2nd.” TheHealingRose, University of New Mexico Hospitals Psychiatric

Center, 28 March 2020, https://www.unm.edu/~htafoya/dayofthedead.html

Cemetery. Digital Image. Pikist. Pikist. Web. 21 October 2020

Two, Thirty. Catrina - Dia de Los Muertos in Tijuana. Digital Image. Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons. 6

February 2017. Web. 21 October 2020.

Vultaggio, M. “Día De Los Muertos Quotes in English: 15 Sayings To Celebrate The Day Of The Dead.” International

Business

Times, International Business Times, 21 October 2020. https://www.ibtimes.com/dia-de-los-muertos-quotes-english-15-

sayings-celebrate-day-dead-2144662

By: Kaylee Rowland

▪ Halloween is considered to have pagan roots and arise from Christian All Saints’ Day

▪ Día de los Muertos has a modern origin in ancient Mexican pre-Columbian beliefs

▪ This celebration is also tied to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

▪ Halloween is a day to appreciate the afterlife and survival of death

▪ A scary and threatening tone ties in with Halloween and it is not considered a celebration

▪ Trick or Treating

▪ Día de los Muertos is a celebration for deceased loved ones to return and be with their families and friends

▪ All enjoy what the lost one enjoyed in life

▪ Halloween is a one day only and is on the last day of the month, October 31st

▪ Día de los Muertos occurs from October 31st through November 2nd

▪ Día de los Muertos centers around skulls

▪ Halloween is associated with scary and gruesome symbols

▪ Witches

▪ Goblins

▪ Ghosts

▪ Pumpkins

▪ Día de los Muertos’ most popular food is pan de muerto

▪ Candy and pumpkin flavored foods are commonly associated with Halloween

▪ Origin: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/dia-de-muertos

▪ Purpose: https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/holidays/halloween/northeast-ohio-trick-or-treat-times/95-2ce59350-96b6-4121-b0e1-491980d9dbe1 and https://unsplash.com/s/photos/dia-de-muertos

▪ Symbols: https://www.123rf.com/photo_16455320_halloween-symbols.html and https://pixabay.com/images/search/day%20of%20the%20dead%20skull/

▪ Foods: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_cornhttps://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a21972026/pumpkin-spice-latte-recipe/ and https://pixabay.com/images/search/pan%20de%20muerto/

Celebrations in the United StatesAshley Franken

■ Video