Dia de los Muertos Facts
What are ofrendas?
Day of the Dead altars placed by Mexican families
What is Day of the Dead meant as?
a celebration of life
What is a sugar skull?
a decorated sugar sculpture shaped like a skull that can be both a beautiful decoration or a sweet treat
What is Pan de Muertos
a delicious loaf of sweet bread, coated in sugar, decorated to resemble a pile of bones
What is atole?
a hot drink made of corn flour, water, and cinnamon sticks
What is the papel picado?
a paper craft put on ofrendas
What is Mictecacihuatl represented by?
a skull
What is Flor de Cempasuchil?
also known as the Mexican Marigold, bright orange flower that grows around Mexico during autumn
What helps the souls find their way back?
candle light, the scent of marigold flowers
What is the purpose of Dia de los Muertos?
celebrate the lives of the deceased
How are cemeteries involved in Day of the Dead?
families clean and wash the graves of the departed and share a meal alongside the graves?
When is Dia de los Muertos?
first two days of November
How important is Dia de los Muertos?
it is seen as second only to christmas
Is Dia de los Muertos Mexican Halloween?
no
What is Day of the Dead art like?
often features skeletons drinking, dancing, and celebrating in humorous situations
What is put on Day of the Dead altars?
photographs of the deceased, objects that were precious to them, foods they enjoyed in life, sugar skulls, candles, Pan de Muertos, crosses and statues
How do people celebrate Day of the Dead?
street parties with music and dancing, celebratory processions involving masks, puppets, and colorful costumes
What kind of food is eaten on Day of the dead?
tamales, atole, Pan de Muertos, sugar skull
Where does Halloween have its origins?
the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain
Where does Dia de los Muertos have its origins?
the ancient religious traditions of Mesoamerica's indigenous population
When does Dia de los Muertos date back to?
the days before the Spanish conquest
What is Mictlan
the final destination for those who died of natural causes
Who is Micteccihuatl
the goddess in charge of Mictlan
Where do Dia de los Muertos traditions come from?
the religious practices of the Aztecs
Why is the marigold important?
the smell is believed to attract spirits, strongly associated with the sun and rebirth, given its orange color
What are Angelitos?
the souls of children