Day of the Dead Preparation
A Spanish class is more than conjugating verbs and learning vocabulary. It’s learning to understand the people who speak that language and appreciate their culture as well as learning how to communicate in a foreign language. Here, students prepare for El Día de los Muertos, (Day of the Dead), an important Mexican Holiday.
CALAVERA
EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Day of the Dead
November 1 and 2
In many places in the Southwest, people of Mexican descent observe and celebrate
a unique Mexican holiday called EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, or Day of the Dead. This
is a custom that many native peoples in Mexico observed before the Spaniards came and is a holiday that takes place in the fall. The native peoples believed that on that day the spirits of family members who have died are allowed to return from their afterlife to visit the family. Although they cannot be seen nor heard, they will take comfort in knowing they are remembered.
In order to celebrate the holiday, an ALTAR is built in the home. The altar is made from tables and boxes in the shape of a pyramid and decorated with a tablecloth, traditional items, food and articles which belonged to the person who died. People often decorate their altar with paper cutouts called PAPEL PICADO, candles, skeleton toys and sugar candies made in the shape of skulls. Fresh fruits and vegetables, favorite foods and something to drink are also left overnight on the altar.
The belief is that those who have died visit on the evening of November 1. The family prays and burns candles to “light the way’ for the spirit. It is said tears will only make the spirit’s path slippery. The next day, El Dia de los Muertos, the family and relatives come together for a meal. After the holiday is over, the altar is taken down. In some towns in Mexico, the family goes to the cemetery and celebrates the holiday at the gravesites.
Besides the serious side of Dia de los Muertos, there are many humorous customs. This is very much a holiday for children. The markets in Mexico have many toys for children made of wood in the form of skeletons which dance and do tricks. There are also candies in the form of sugar skulls, with names written across their foreheads, that children buy to give to their friends, similar to our custom of chocolate-covered Easter eggs or valentine candy hearts.
This holiday takes place just a day after Halloween and at first seems to be like Halloween with all the skeleton images. But it is not scary like Halloween. Children don’t dress up in costumes and the skeletons are more like clowns. EI Dia de los Muertos is a time to remember that death will come to everyone.
EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Day of the Dead November 1 and 2 CALAVERA (ca-lah-vay-rah) EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (el dee-ah day los moo-er-tos) ALTAR (ahl-tahr) PAPEL. PICADO (pah-pel pee-cah-do)