Day Of The Dead

presentation for Mexican American Humanities

1. Day of the dead By Amber McCutchen

2. El Dia de los Muertos Also known as All Souls Day, observed by the Catholic Church, for a holiday to remember the faithful departed. A day of celebrating and remembering the deceased loved ones, friends and family. The holiday is held on November 1, Dia de los Inocentes, for infants and children and November 2, Dia for adults. This is a festival for the ancestors who are dead

3. Origins Mictecacihual is from Aztec mythology the queen of Miclan, ruling over the underworld in the afterlife, The Lady of the Dead. The Origins can be traced back thousands of years. All cultures across the globe have some type of festival for the dead. The Aztecs dedicated their celebration to the goddess Mictecacihual, the Lady of the Dead.

4. Toys for children, favorite foods and drinks, examples pan de meurto, tequila or atole, a hot drink, are often brought to the grave sites or altars. The families and friends come together to celebrate the one’s passed.

5. Cempasuchitl, the marigold, is thought to attract the souls of the dead. Marigolds, flower of the dead ‘Flor de Muerto’

6. Traditions Earth is represented by the crop, the souls are believed to be fed by the aroma of the food. Water given to quench the thirst for the long journey to the altar. The day of the dead is a combination of Christian and pre-Hispanic traditions. The Altar is the a main component Four major parts: Earth, water, wind and fire. Each are symbolic and have strong ties to the afterlife.

7. Traditions cont. Wind is represented by paper, typically bright colored tissue paper. Fire is represented by the candle for each one is representative of a soul and an extra one for the forgotten soul.

8. Beliefs The making of sugar skulls revenues money for the local economies and is an event that is prepared for all year long by the whole community. It is believed that these ceremonies communicate the living with the dead souls. Gifts are offered Skulls made of sugar and chocolate are given to the dead and the living of the deceased

9. The bright colors that are used are to show the celebration of the dead and the love and happiness associated with the holiday. Sugar skulls

10. The Catrinas are a staple of the holiday, meaning elegant, one of the most popular figures for the celebration. La Calavera Catrina

11. A traditional bread made specifically for dia de los muertos . It’s a soft sweet bread in the shape of a bun topped with sugar. Usually eaten at the gravesite. Pan de Muerto                                                                                                                          

12. Countries that celebrate The celebrations are held from within the Mexican communities also making political and artistic statements, most common in California, Arizona and Texas. In Brazil, Finados , is a holiday similarly held in churches and gravesites. In Haiti traditions of Voodoo mixed with Catholicism. The United States Latin America

13. Countries cont. Most of Europe celebrates the Roman Catholic holiday of All Saints Day or All Souls Day. The Philippines celebrate Araw ng mga Patay , the day of the dead, is more of a family reunion type of festival. Europe Asia

14. The Altars are elaborate and are worked on throughout the year with flowers, candles, crosses, pictures of deceased, skulls and food and drink. The Altar                                                                       Day of the Dead in Mexico represents a mixture

15. The Day of the Dead A special time to remember those passed and bringing the living together. A celebration of culture and tradtion A Artistic expression and religious festival This is day of love and significance.

16. Works Cited www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead www.imdb.com/title/tt0489018/ www.inside-mexico.com/featureddead.htm