Day or the Dead
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Dia de Los Muertos
Day of the Dead
The holiday focuses on gatherings
of family and friends to pray for
and remember friends and family
members who have died.
It is particularly celebrated in
Mexico.
Traditions connected with the holiday
include:
building private altars honoring the
deceased using calacas, marigolds,
and the favorite foods and beverages
of the departed and visiting graves
with these as gifts.
The Day of the Dead is a time of
celebration when eating and parties are
common.
Dia de los Muertos Vocabulary
Cempazuchitl: Yellow marigolds
that are symbols of dead
Copal: Burning incense left at
alter
Ofrenda: offerings to honor the
dead
Pan de Muerto: Bread of the dead
Cascarones: Festive egg shells
that are filled with confetti and
trimmed in glitter
Alfeniques: Poems and songs
written about the festival
Calaca: whimsical skeleton figure
that represents death
Calaveras: Colorful iced sugar
skulls
Angelitos: Souls of children who
have died.
Calaca
•
A Mexican Spanish Name for
SKELETON.
•
Origins from Aztec,
frequently shown with flowers
(such as marigolds).
•
Depicted as Happy or Joyful
rather than mournful (sad).
•
Shown wearing festive
clothes, dancing, and/or
playing musical instruments to
indicate a happy afterlife.
Masks
Form (3D)
Abstract Face
Meaning it is a face
but is distorted or
simplified
Used for cerem0nial
purposes.
Calaveras
Calavera—the skull—is the
number one symbol for the
Days of the Dead.
It is not presented to
terrorize.
Instead, the calavera
represents the playfulness
of the Dead, as they mimic
the Living and frolic amongst
us.