DAY OF THE DEAD

HONORING THE DEAD

OFFRENDA (OFFERING) ALTARS

The most familiar image of Day of the Dead is the calacas (skeletons)and calaveras (skulls). Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes. Their images are used in candies, parade masks, and dolls.

Day of the Dead is celebrated worldwide. In Brazil it is called Dia de Finados and is a public holiday that is celebrated by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Ireland, people bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives and say prayers for their dead loved ones. In Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland, the tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives. In the Philippines, the holiday is called Todos los Santos (All Saints Day), and has more of a family-reunion atmosphere. Tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Entire families camp in cemeteries and sometimes spend a night or two near their relatives' tombs. Card games, eating, drinking, singing and dancing are common activities in the cemetery.

DAY OF THE DEAD INFLUENCE Nightmare Before Christmas’ Jack and Sally

LITTLE BIG PLANET

DAY OF THE DEAD PROJECT IMAGES