Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)

| Food and Drink | Altar and Offerings (ofrendas) | Art, Crafts and Decorations | Activities, Traditions and Events | History and Meaning | Honoring the dead in other countries | Mexican Proverbs and Vocabulary | WebQuest |

Food and Drink

Día de los Muertos http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
Links to pages about history, events, crafts, food and photos.

How Its Celebrated Today, History & Origins http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
"From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence."

Dia de los Muertos "Day of the Dead" http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/history/a/dayofthedead.htm
"November first begins the Dia de los Muertos (also known as "Day of the Dead") festivities with All Saints Day in which the deceased children are honored and remembered. November second All Souls Day is for the remembrance of the adult dead."

Candy, Chocolate and Amaranto Skulls http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/candy-chocolate-and-amaranto-skulls
"The cult of the “skull” is almost universal; many cities around the world have preserved it due to the belief that in it the powers of the deceased can be found."

Mucbil chicken or Pib Recipe cooked in the womb of Mother Earth http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/mucbil-chicken-or-pib-recipe-cooked-womb-mother-earth
“What beautiful symbolism: imagine the tamal made from the dough of corn, with its meat of chicken or pork; with the achiote and wrapping of banana leaf cooked in a fire pit. The substance, baked by Mother Earth is that essence of man transformed into its food. For that reason, the mucbil chicken is also transformed into food for the soul; that pib, that tamal, comes from the womb of Mother Earth to give man the opportunity to nourish his body and soul.”

Recipes http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/recipes
"One of the most celebrated traditions in Mexico is Day of the Dead. On this occasion, unique dishes are prepared, and the relatives cook for the enjoyment of the deceased."

Altar and Offerings (ofrendas)

Traditions: The Altar http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/traditions-altar
"The altar includes four main elements of nature — earth, wind, water, and fire."

Oaxaca: A sharing of sadness and joy http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/oaxaca-sharing-sadness-and-joy
"The offerings, a main aspect of the celebration, echo the profound love that the Oaxacan people feel towards life. There are subtle variations in the presentation of the offerings, among the neighboring towns."

Día de los Muertos http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
Links to pages about history, events, crafts, food and photos.

How Its Celebrated Today, History & Origins http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
"From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence"

November 2: the Day of the Dead http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1972-november-2-the-day-of-the-dead
"In most localities November 1 is set aside for remembrance of deceased infants and children, often referred to as angelitos (little angels). Those who have died as adults are honored November 2."

Day of the Dead Photo Gallery http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/ig/Day-of-the-Dead/

Dia de los Muertos "Day of the Dead" http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/history/a/dayofthedead.htm
"November first begins the Dia de los Muertos (also known as "Day of the Dead") festivities with All Saints Day in which the deceased children are honored and remembered. November second All Souls Day is for the remembrance of the adult dead."

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Art, Crafts and Decorations

Día de los Muertos http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
Links to pages about history, events, crafts, food and photos.

Celebrating Los Días de los Muertos http://www.holidays.net/halloween/muertos.htm
"The local inhabitants welcome back the returning butterflies, which they believe bear the spirits of their departed."

How Its Celebrated Today, History & Origins http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
"From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence."

Day of the Dead Photo Gallery http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/ig/Day-of-the-Dead/

Folk Art Gallery http://www.ddfolkart.com/folkart/folkartgallery1.htm

Stock illustrations http://www.fotosearch.com/illustration/day-dead.html
88 clip art images.

Mexconnect http://www.mexconnect.com/tags/day-of-the-dead
Pictures, articles and recipes.

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Activities, Traditions and Events

Jimbankua in the Purhepecha Plateau shares its Passion for Life http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/jimbankua-purhepecha-plateau-shares-its-passion-life
"The Purhepecha, like the Maya, are a culture of corn, therefore not only the nutritional value of this product of the earth is rooted here, but the cultural value as well."

Mixquic: The Day of the Dead and the Day of All Saints http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/2826-day-of-the-dead
"Each year, a series of unique events are held in several parts of the country to commemorate family members who have passed away. In the area of Tlahuac, for instance, the little town of Mixquic holds one of the most outstanding and emotional celebrations on the day of dead."

Celebrating Los Días de los Muertos http://www.holidays.net/halloween/muertos.htm
"The local inhabitants welcome back the returning butterflies, which they believe bear the spirits of their departed."

How Its Celebrated Today, History & Origins http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
"From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence."

Mexconnect http://www.mexconnect.com/tags/day-of-the-dead
Pictures, articles and recipes.

Day of the Dead Photographs http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/day-dead-photographs
"Mary J. Andrade has traveled to Mexico in October and November since 1987 to photograph and document Day of the Dead celebrations."

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History and Meaning

Día de los Muertos http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
Links to pages about history, events, crafts, food and photos.

How Its Celebrated Today, History & Origins http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
"From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence."

Common Misconceptions http://www.inside-mexico.com/noes.htm
"We welcome the opportunity to reflect upon our lives, our heritage, our ancestors and the meaning and purpose of our own existence."

November 2: the Day of the Dead http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1972-november-2-the-day-of-the-dead
"In most localities November 1 is set aside for remembrance of deceased infants and children, often referred to as angelitos (little angels). Those who have died as adults are honored November 2."

José Guadalupe Posada Creator of La Catrina http://www.ddfolkart.com/articles/joseguadalupeposada.htm
"Posada gave death a face, with a sarcastic, ironic touch. It was through his art that the Catrina and later the Calaca were born."

Dia de los Muertos "Day of the Dead" http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/history/a/dayofthedead.htm
"November first begins the Dia de los Muertos (also known as "Day of the Dead") festivities with All Saints Day in which the deceased children are honored and remembered. November second All Souls Day is for the remembrance of the adult dead."

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Honoring the dead in other countries

Day of the Dead http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
"In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their loved ones who have died. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the Philippines, and similarly-themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures."

Day of the Dead in the Philippines http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Day_of_the_Dead
"In the Philippines, it is called Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead), Undas or Todos Los Santos (since this holiday is celebrated on November 1, All Saints Day, designated by the Roman Catholic Church), and has more of a "family reunion" atmosphere. It is said to be an "opportunity to be with" the departed and is done in a somewhat solemn way. Tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Since it is supposed to be about spending time with dead relatives, families usually camp in cemeteries, and sometimes spend a night or two near their relatives' tombs. Card games, eating, drinking, singing and dancing are common activities in the cemetery, probably to alleviate boredom. It is considered a very important holiday by many Filipinos (after Christmas and Holy Week), and additional days are normally given as special nonworking holidays (but only November 1 is a regular holiday). "

A Celebration of Death Among the Filipino http://bosp.kcc.hawaii.edu/Horizons/horizons_1999/celebration2.html

Guatemala Celebrates Day of The Dead with Giant Kites! http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/guatemala-celebrates-day-dead-giant-kites
Video of the celebration.

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Mexican Proverbs and Vocabulary

Glossary of words http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/ethnicstudies/day_dead_glossary.html
Eight Spanish words and phrases, and what they mean in English, used during Day of the Dead.

Proverbs and popular sayings http://www.ddfolkart.com/articles/mexicanproverbs.htm
"Hay más tiempo que vida = There is more time than life."

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