Dia de Los Muertos Celebrating a Mexican Holiday

A Brief History on the Tradition Dating back to: Mesoamerica (Pre-Hispanic Mexico) Aztec Origins: A ritual presided by the Mictecacihuatl “Lady of the Dead” and dedicated to children and the dead. But… *Post-Conquest was changed by the Spaniards as a Christian holiday know as All Hallows Eve “Dia de Todos los Santos”

What is Dia de Los Muertos Present Day: Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican Holiday which remembers their dead, and the continuity of life.

Important Things You Need To Know About Dia de Los Muertos This holiday is celebrated differently depending on the region and degree of urbanization. It is not a morbid occasion but rather a festival of life.

Holidays Activities 1)Welcoming the dead back to their homes 2) Visiting the graves of past loved ones. Here family members will gather and help decorate the gravesite.

Creating An Altar Decorating with marigold and chrysanthemums flowers Adorning with religious amulets Offering of food (perhaps a favorite dish) Cigarettes and Alcoholic Beverages Bread and Sugar Figurines Photographs Calaveras (Skeleton Figurines) But most important… A thing that the dead prized and enjoyed while they lived. Note: Through this altar family members feel that the souls of the dead return and are all around them.

ALTARSALTARS FOODFOOD GRAVESITES

Classroom Crafts Marigold Flowers A. Materials Needed 1. Pencil or Pen 2. Ruler 3. Yellow or Multi- Colored Tissue paper 4.Pipe Cleaners 5.Tape

Instructions 1. Starting at one end of an unfolded package of tissue paper, measure off strips 2 1/2 inches wide. 2. Fold each strip into 4 equal parts 3. With paper folded, make 1/2 inch cuts starting at the top edge. Cuts should be 1/4 inches apart. 4. Trim each petal by cutting an inverted diagonal V shape. 5. Hold straight edge of a strip in 1 hand while gathering the petals with the other hand, wrapping around the pipe cleaner. 6. Cut a strip of tape to place around the bottom of the petal to attach to the pipe cleaner. Continue to wrap downward around the length of the pipe cleaner. 7. Fluff out the petals bye bending them outward from the center.

Sugar Skulls Supplies: 1.1 set of plastic skull molds 2.Mixing bowl and spoon 3.2 cups of granulated sugar 4.2 teaspoons of meringue powder 5.2 teaspoons of water 6.1 piece of cardboard, approx. 5” by 5”

INSTRUCTIONS Continue making the rest of the skulls. Let them dry for 24 hours in a dry place. 1.Mix the dry ingredients together in the bowl. 2.Sprinkle the water in and continue to mix until the sugar is completely moistened and becomes the consistency of moist sand. 3.Scoop some of the mixture into the mold and pack it evenly and firmly. 4.Place the piece of cardboard on top of the mold and quickly flip it over so the sugar skull pops out. 5.Very carefully slide it onto a flat surface.

ICING INGREDIENTS Icing: 2/3 cup of water 1/2 cup meringue powder 2 pounds of powdered sugar Electric mixer Concentrated food coloring (the kind professional cake bakers use) 1 pastry or Ziploc bag Plastic cups Spoon

ICING INSTRUCTIONS 1.Blend the ingredients with an electric mixer until the peaks form in the icing. 2.If using assorted colors, scoop the white icing into separate bowls and add a dab of different colored food coloring in each one. 3.Mix again. 4.Scoop the icing into the pastry or Ziploc bag (snip the corner for the latter). 5.Continue until you have several bags of different colors. 6.Keep sealed and refrigerated until use. Makes four small skulls

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