The Day of the Dead History and Traditions

The Day of The Dead It is a holiday with a complex history, the way it is observed may be different from city to city It is not a morbid occasion, but rather a festive time.

Dates of celebration Originally an Aztec Holiday celebrated at the end of July and beginning of August It was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve It is now celebrated during the first two days of November

Family Activities Welcome their dead back into their homes Decorate gravesites with flowers, religious amulets, offerings of food Enjoy picnics in the cemetery Create Altars

Remembering The Dead Celebrants believe that the souls of the dead return and are all around them Families remember the departed by telling stories about them. Commemoration of the dead has pleasant overtones for the observers Families recognize the cycle of life and death that is human existence.

Altars offerings of flowers and food, things that will remind the living of the departed, things that the dead prized and enjoyed done to assure that the souls of the dead return to take part in the remembrance

Artist Virginia Agvero of Mesa prepares her altar for the Dia de los Muertos.

Food sugar skeletons or other items with a death motif are given as gifts bread molded into the shape of a body or burial wrap special family supper featuring the bread of the dead

Native Traditions Flower petals guide the returning soul to its altar The Day of the Little Angels: Nov 1: celebrates departed Children November 2nd: Adults are remembered La Ofrenda con Calaveras

Calacas Skulls are a symbol of life and regeneration in Mexico.

Children are invited to dance with calacas (masked figures).

Sugar Skulls Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. The first Church mention of sugar art was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made to adorn the side altars in the Catholic Church.

Sugar Skulls Mexico, abundant in sugar production and too poor to buy fancy imported European church decorations, learned quickly from the friars how to make sugar art for their religious festivals. Clay molded sugar figures of angels, sheep and sugar skulls go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers. These wonderful artisans are disappearing as fabricated and imported candy skulls take their place.

Sugar Skulls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP42XHd_Gcw

FIBER ART II Will create a 3-D sugar skull

Flaming Skull by Alfonso Castillo

Skull Candle holder with Calla Lilies

Fiber Art I Day of the Dead Create a fabric sugar skull

Fiber Art I Day of the Dead 5 fabric sugar skulls on a garland

Fiber Art II Day of the Dead fabric Fabric sugar skeleton

Fiber Art I Day of the Dead fabric paper skulls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq9-tXNO1mk