Nombre:_________________________________________________ Clase ___________
Fecha:____________________________________________________________________
Dia de los Muertos—The Day of the Dead
Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated on November 1. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated.
Dia de los Muertos honors the dead with festivals and lively celebrations, a typically Latin American custom that combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism, brought to the region by Spanish conquistadores. (Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, minor holidays in the Catholic calendar.)
Assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.
The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos may be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.
Quick Facts
- Family members often clean and decorate the graves of loved ones on Dia de los Muertos.
- In addition to celebrations, the dead are honored on Dia de los Muertos with ofrendas—small, personal altars honoring one person. Ofrendas often have flowers, candles, food, drinks, photos, and personal mementos of the person being remembered.
- Dia de los Muertos is actually Dias de los Muertos—the holiday is spread over two days. November 1 is Dia de los Inocentes, honoring children who have died. Graves are decorated with white orchids and baby's breath. November 2 is Dia de los Muertos, honoring adults, whose graves are decorated with bright orange marigolds.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/dia-de-los-muertos/
On a separate piece of paper please answer the following questions in a paragraph.
En un papel separado, por favor contesta las siguentes preguntas en un parrafo.
1- How do we honor people who have passed away here in the United States?
Como celebramos a las personas cuando fallecen aqui en los Estados Unidos?
2- Many of the faces of skulls and skeletons are only half painted. Why do you think this is the case?
Muchas calacas y calaveras solo se pintan a la mitad. Por que crees que este es el caso?
Assignment due next Wednesday, October 18
Write a 3 paragraph description of someone who has passed in your life or in the public life.
Escribe una descripcion de 3 parrafos sobrealguien que fallecio en tu vida o la vida publica
# 1- Share who they were (birthday- death)
Comparte quienes fueron
#2- Why they were important to you or society
Por que fueron imporantes para ti o para la sociedad
#3- Their legacy, what did they leave behind (children, lessons, inventions)
Cual fue su legado, que dejaron.
