1. El Día De Los Muertos
© Catharyn Crane,

2. Video corto:
First, let’s preview the video questions. Then let’s watch it: (3 min) Answer the questions on your handout as we watch!
*This clip is not accesible outside the US. Give these a try as alternatives if you need:
(5 min clip)
(3 min clip)
(18 min clip, so you might need to cut pieces

3. Video corto:
Did you get all the answers? Take a minute to finish answering the video questions.
Share with a partner, in small groups, or as a class.

4. El vocabulario
Follow our presentation to learn about important aspects of celebrating el Día de los Muertos.
As we go through it, write down the definition for each vocabulary word.

5. Who celebrates (or has family who celebrates) Día de los Muertos?
Before we start vocabulary…
Who celebrates (or has family who celebrates) Día de los Muertos?
If you would like to share what your family does, as we go along, please do!

6. Las ofrendas This is the offering, itself
Can be outside (at the grave site), or inside (as part of an altar)

7. Ofrendas
Fotos, food, candy  feels positive, happy (not sad, like a funeral)

8. Ofrendas
Remember, the ofrenda is literally the offering – the things that are offered

9. El altar
Ofrendas can be constructed at the cemetery next to the grave, or it’s own altar in someone’s house, for example.
Notice the alcohol, cigarettes, food  all common to see

10. El cempazuchitl One type of ofrenda (or decoration) Aztec word
Marigolds

11. Cempazuchitl
Use petals to guide the souls to their altars, families, and old homes

12. Las calaveras Skeleton figures
This art here is by Jose Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican cartoonist/illustrator (1852 – 1913)
His illustrations have become synonymous with Dia de los Muertos
In his pictures, which would be published in the newspapers, he would satirize the upper class… the idea that you can’t take your riches to the grave

13. Calaveras La Catrina– a fancy wealthy Mexican lady who is dead
Is the best example of the idea that you can’t take your riches to the grave

14. Las calaveritas de azúcar
These are made and decorated kind of like gingerbread houses at Christmas in the US
Usually they are not really good to eat, since it’s pure sugar!
They often decorate the altars

15. Las velas
Candles are common at the grave sites and on the altars

16. El cementerio
Much of dia de los muertos begins in the day but goes into the night
Families camp out at the cementerio and talk, eat, sing, and remember their dead loved ones

17. Los angelitos
Even though día de los muertos sounds like one day, it is celebrated over 2.
Dia de los inocentes is celebrated on Nov 1. On this, the first day/night of dia de los muertos remembers children who have died.
Nov 2 is for everyone else who has died.
Angelitos refers to the little angels, kids who have died too soon and now look over us as little angels.

18. El atole
Atole is a hot corn-based drink (kind of like hot chocolate) that people commonly drink on the holiday
There are different flavors, and you can make it by scratch or homemade

19. El pan de muerto Literally: bread of the dead
It often has a calavera shape on the top
It is sweet (covered in cinnamon sugar)  this is a happy holiday

20. Un día alegre
Remember, día de los muertos is a happy celebration. Not scary, creepy, or haunted.
People hope that the spirits of their dead relatives and friends come back on these days!

21. Where else is día de los muertos celebrated?
So far we’ve focused on Mexico.
Where else is día de los muertos celebrated?
If time… do these slides
Because Día de los muertos originated from indigenous rituals combined with the Spanish Catholic holiday of All Saints and All Souls days, you see it celebrated differently all over the Latin American world. Everyone has their own traditions.

22. Día de los muertos: Estados Unidos

23. Día de los muertos: Ecuador

24. Día de los muertos: Guatemala

25. Una animación

26. Colorimos las Calacas!