1. El Dia de Los Muertos The Day of the Dead

3. Historia More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate.

4. Historia The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolise death and rebirth and honour the dead. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. The Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan. In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual. But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die.

5. What was the Spaniards’ 1 st impression of this native ritual? A. It was really cool B. It mocked death C. It was just like Halloween

6. How long had indigenous people in Mexico and Central American been practicing this ritual? A. About 40 years B. A little over 1 million years C. Over 3,000 years

7. What did Aztecs and Meso- Americans do with skulls? A. Kept them as trophies B. Used them to decorate their houses C. Used them as bowls

8. What did this skulls symbolise to the Aztecs & Meso-Americans? A. Death, rebirth, and honour of the dead B. Victory! C. They were just really decorative and not symbolic

9. What was the Spaniards’ view of death? A. The beginning of life B. The end of life C. Just something that happens

10. What were the native’s view of death? A. The end of life B. Something to be feared C. A continuation of life

11. Historia To make the ritual more Catholic, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today. Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and Central America and falls in between Oct. 31 st and Nov. 2 nd. Traditionally, most regions in Mexico will honour deceased children and infants on November 1 st and deceased adults on November 2 nd. November 1 st is traditionally called “Día de los Inocentes” (Day of the Innocents) or “Día de los Angelitos” (Day of the Little Angels).

12. What Catholic holiday coincides with Day of the Dead? A. Halloween B. Three Kings Day C. All Saints Day

13. When is Day of the Dead celebrated? A. October 1 st -November 1 st B. October 31 st - November 31 st C. October 31 st -November 2 nd

14. What group is traditionally celebrated on November 1 st (El Día de los Angelitos)? A. Deceased children and infants B. Deceased adults C. Those who died in violent crimes

15. It's celebrated differently depending on where you go In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.

16. In their honour… In the United States and in Mexico's larger cities, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar. They also prepare and eat the deceased’s favorite food and play music in their honour.

17. Traditional altar decorations Candles representing hope and faith that burn through the night so there is no darkness. Traditionally there is a candle for each deceased member of the family and one extra so no one is left out. A traditional incense called Copal which is used to cleanse the area and ward off evil. The scent is used to attract the sprits home. Water to purify and quench the thirst of the spirits after a long journey. Salt to season their food. Bread for survival. A washbasin with soap, towels, and other items so the spirit can clean up when they arrive home. Calaveras or decorative skeletons to represent the loved one. The deceased favorite items to make them feel more at home. The traditional flower (marigold) which dates back to the time of the Aztecs is believed to lure the spirits back with its scent.

18. Calaveras

19. Families tiding and decorating graves in a cemetery in Mexico

20. Where do families traditionally go on Day of the Dead? A. To the city centre B. The graveyard C. The place where their loved one died.

21. What happens at the gravesites? A. The families decorate the graves B. The family members have a picnic C. Family members bring the deceased favorite things and place them on the grave D. All of the above

22. What do people do in their homes for Day of the Dead? A. Nothing B. Make an altar for the deceased C. Recreate the cemetery

23. How many candles are traditionally put on the altar? A. The biggest candle you can find B. 1 candle for each deceased member + 1 extra C. 3 candles

24. What are Calaveras ? A. Gravesites B. Incense C. Decorative skulls

25. What flower is traditionally used as decoration? A. Marigolds B. Lilies C. Black roses

26. To leave the classroom you must answer these questions! 1. What is 1 thing you learned about El día de los Muertos? 2. What is 1 thing you found most interesting about El día de los Muertos? 3. How does El día de los Muertos compare to Halloween? (Give 1 similarity and 1 difference).