1. The Day of the Dead The Latino Halloween
El día de los muertos
The Day of the Dead
The Latino Halloween

2. Purpose Commemorate dead loved ones
Mix of Spanish Catholic and Aztec beliefs
*Very important, mostly Mexican tradition
*Commemorates dead and is opportunity to family to gather together to do so.
~From influences of Catholic Spaniards (All Saints and All Souls Days) and precolumbian-aztec practices, beliefs
“The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[3]”
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3. Origins Mesoamerican rituals (Aztecs, Mayans) Spanish influence
Honor the dead
Reinforce belief in afterlife
Late July -late August (corn harvest)
Spanish influence
Catholic All Saints and All Souls Days
Goddess Micatecacihuatl, or Catrina, Queen of the Afterlife
Celebrate rather than fear death; dead probably rather be celebrated k mourned
Spanish forced Aztecs to move celebrations to coincide with Catholic celebrations of dead in early Nov
Goddess turned into a skeletal woman, fancy clothes and ornate, large hats—reminder of mortality
--gave rise to current calacas, skeletons which often “show joyful and active afterlife.”

4. 2 31 1 Dónde y cuándo octubre noviembre noviembre Donde y cuando
*Different celebrations in different places, for example
~Brazil==día de finados, public holiday visit church y cemetery
~Spain, parades, processions and visit cemetery
~South West US, Mexican population celebrations similar to what you see in México
*Three days Oct 31, Nov 1, Nov 2 during which clean and decorate graves, make ofrendas or altars, eat special foods, and remember loved ones
Nov 1: in Mexico, honors children and infants==día de los inocentes or angelitos
Nov 2: in Mexico, honors adults==día de los muertos o difuntos
noviembre 2

5. Tradiciones: practicas la ofrenda
Traditions
Ofrendas or altars made in public places and in homes
decorated with pictures of deceased loved ones, flowers (marigolds) and tasty foods to direct or tempt dead to visit
also use papel picado (colorful cut out paper to decorate with), possessions of deceased and sugar skulls or calaveras (skulls)
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6. Tradiciones-decoraciones
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7. Tradiciones-comidas
Foods: local fruits and nuts, tomales, hot chocolate, chicken, candy
Usually make some of deceased’s fav foods;
“In some parts of the country (especially the cities, where in recent years there are displaced other customs), children in costumes roam the streets, knocking on people's doors for a calaverita, a small gift of candies or money; they also ask passersby for it. This custom is similar to that of Halloween's trick-or-treating and is relatively recent
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8. Clip – Tapetes Sand Paintings