Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead):
A Celebration of Hispanic Arts and Culture

BACKGROUND ESSAY

The celebrations of El Dias de los Muertos (the Days of the Dead) dates back to the Aztecs.  It is a celebration that allows deceased family members and friends know that they have not been forgotten by the living.  The belief system behind the holiday is that after a person dies his or her spirit returns once a year to visit.  The Days of the Dead is the chance for the living to show the spirits how much they meant to them when they return.  The celebration is not meant to be scary, like the American holiday of Halloween, but rather a celebration of life itself.  Although the Spanish tried to erase most of the influence of the native people, this strong belief has continued on to this day.  Recognizing the similarities with the Roman Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the church has accepted this holiday and there are now many Christian rituals associated with the holiday as well. 

In some regions of Mexico the preparations for El Dias de los Muertos can take several weeks.  Within the home, many families begin by building an ofrenda, or altar (image 1).  The ofrenda is frequently covered with many bright, pungent flowers such as cempasuchitl (marigolds), fruit, pictures of the deceased, pan de muertos (bread of the dead), and the favorite foods, toys, or objects the person loved in life.  Many candles would also be placed on and around the ofrenda.  Depending on the family, some ofrendas can end up filling almost an entire room.  Many local businesses, such as hotels, will also build ofrendas for the “forgotten” souls, those who may no longer have living relatives, or for those who died in a violent way, such as a car crash (image 2).  On November 1 and November 2, the days and nights when El Dias de los Muertos is celebrated many people will create a path of cempasuchitl petals (image 3) leading from the outside into the home and up to the ofrenda.  The rich, pungent smell of the cempasuchitl is believed to be a pleasant smell to the souls that will lead them back to their family.  For the first three years after someone passes away the family will also frequently prepare a huge feast, inviting friends and family over to enjoy the person’s favorite foods, enjoy music and dancing, and then heading to the cemetery to continue the celebration of the person’s life.

As part of the preparations leading up to the Days of the Dead, family members also go to the cemetery to clean and paint the headstone, in some regions this may also include cleaning the actual bones of the deceased.  The area around the gravesite will also be decorated with many flowers, fruits, pictures, and candles.  During the evening on the Days of the Dead there are all night vigils in the cemeteries where family members sing, eat, tell stories, and say prayers for the souls of their departed loved ones.  During the evening rather then being a dark, scary place, the cemeteries are filled with people, the warm glow of candle light, pungent smell of cempasuchitl, and sweet smell of burning incense (image 4).  A Catholic Mass is often held in the cemeteries on these evenings as well.

Art of all kinds also plays a major role in the celebration of the Days of the Dead.  Calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skeleton dolls) are made of material from wood, metal, paper Mache, and even chocolate or sugar.  These skeletons are not made to be scary like those associated with Halloween, but are rather often made to appear happy or playful.  This comes from the belief that death is not something to be feared, but rather a natural occurrence in every life.  Skeleton toys are made for children to play with, and handmade paper dolls of all shapes and sizes are made depicting people enjoying just about any activity people may enjoy in their everyday life (images 5,6, & 7).  Two of the more popular images depicted are those of the wedding couple (image 8), to symbolize that the love of two people extends beyond this life, and Catrina (image 9), a wealthy woman, to show that death affects everyone, rich or poor.  The image of Catrina in Mexico shares the popularity that Santa Clause carries in the United States, her image is sold on post cards, t-shirts, mouse pads, jewelry, and just about anything else her image can be depicted in both art and advertisements.

During the Days of the Dead skulls are made out of sugar or chocolate and then decorated with frosting and foil (image 10).  As a finishing touch the names of friends or family members are written in frosting across the skull.  All of these art forms can be purchased at shops, stores, or street venders in the days leading up to the Days of the Dead.  Many regions also have sand sculpture competitions where sand is sculpted into images celebrating the Days of the Dead and colored with dried paint pigments (image 11).

One of the foods commonly associated with the Days of the Dead is Pan de Muerto or Bread of the Dead (image 12).  Depending on the region where the bread is made it usually takes one of two forms, a round loaf topped with cross bones or a small fat child.  The belief behind the round loaf is that it is the shape of a human soul.  This bread is often sweet, and covered in red sugar, the color of blood.  The bread is considered to be yet another way to entice the soul back and make sure that the soul is happy.

El Dias de los Muertos is a special time that brings families and friends together to celebrate life itself.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Andrade, M. J. (1996).  Day of the Dead in Mexico, Through the Eyes of the Soul, ~ Mexico City ~.  La Oferta Review Newspaper, Inc. (Written in both Spanish in English)

Andrade, M. J. (2001).  The Vigil of the Little Angels.  La Oferta Review Newspaper, Inc. (Written in both Spanish in English)

Andrade, M. J. (1999).  Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico ~ Michoacan ~.  La Oferta Review Newspaper, Inc. (Written in both Spanish in English)

Andrade, M. J. (1999).  Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico ~ Oaxaca ~.  La Oferta Review Newspaper, Inc. (Written in both Spanish in English)

Andrade, M. J. (2001).  Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico ~ Puebla ~.  La Oferta Review Newspaper, Inc. (Written in both Spanish in English)

Andrade, M. J. (2003).  Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico ~ Yucatan ~.  La Oferta Review Newspaper, Inc. (Written in both Spanish in English)

Banks, J. A., Beyer, B. K., Contreras, G., Craven, J, Ladson-Billings, G., MacFarland, M. & Parker, W. C. (1993) ­Latin America and Canada.  Macmillan/Mc Graw-Hill School Publishing Co.

Johnston, T. & Winter, J.  (1997).  Day of the Dead.  Voyager Books, Harcourt, Inc.

Menard, V. (2004)  The Latino Holiday Book.  Marlowe & Company

ACTIVITIES

1. Calaveras (Sugar Skulls) – Skulls and skeletons in Mexican culture are not only used as a symbol of death, but also an expression (often humorous) of the belief that the dead continue to have life and form.  Sugar skulls are traditionally brightly decorated and given to friends as a way of celebrating while these bonds while they are still alive.  In this class each student will be given a sugar skull to decorate.  Further directions for this activity can be found at:  http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/mexicansugarskull/recipe.htm

2.  Papel Picados (Cut Paper) – Papel Picados are a traditional form of decoration used in Mexican culture.  They are traditionally made using sharp tools, hammers, and brightly colored tissue paper.  The images on the papel picados typically reflect either images associated with the Days of the Dead or, for other times of the year, images associated with Mexican culture.   Further directions for this activity can be found at:  http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mpapel_picado.htm

3.  Read and discuss The Spirit of Tio Fernando:  A Day of the Dead Story.  This story of preparing for the Days of the Dead as told from the point of view of a young boy named after us Uncle Fernando.