1. El día de los muertos

2. A celebration that honors the dead
A celebration that honors the dead. Coincides with the Catholic celebrations of All Souls and All Saints day on the 1st and 2nd of November.

3. historia
Aztecs and meso-americans kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during rituals
Skulls – death and rebirth
Death – continuation of life
embraced it
Spaniards tried to eradicate the custom
Originally celebrated in August (month long celebration)

4. Mictecacihuatl – godess A.K.A. Lady of the Dead
Believed to have died at birth

5. Celebrates and remembers deceased with festive music and food filled celebrations

6. People create altars in their homes (7 steps- 7 stages that the dead have to pass through before being able to rest)

7. include the 4 basic elements of nature
Salt – purifies
Copal – (tree resin) for the souls to follow
(marigolds (cempasuchil)
Incense
Pictures of the deceased
Favorite foods and drinks of the deceased
Sugar skulls bearing the names of their deceased relatives
include the 4 basic elements of nature
Earth – represented by the fruits that nurture the soul with their aroma
Wind – confetti
Water – to quench their thirst from their journey from the spirit world to the land of the living
Fire – candles to represent each soul being remembered and one for a forgotten soul

8. Pan de muertos – a special bread made especially for the season

9. Graves are decorated

10. The spirits go there first
In some places flower petals are laid in paths from the cemetery to the house so the spirits can find their way
Some spend the whole night at the cemetery
Music, talking, dancing and drinking

11. Children are celebrated on November 1
Adults are celebrated on November 2