Día de los Muertos

Historia Hace 500 años, cuando los conquistadores españoles llegaron al lugar que ahora llamamos México, vieron nativos practicando un ritual con los muertos. Era un ritual que los indígenas habían practicando durante años. Los españoles trataron de eliminar este ritual sin éxito. Hoy este ritual se llama Día de los Muertos. Los mexicanos no celebran el Día de las Brujas, celebran Día de los Muertos.

History It has been about 500 years ago when the Spanish conquistadores entered in what we call Mexico now, they found Native Americans practicing a ritual which seemed like dead. This was a ritual that the Native Americans had practiced for almost 3,000 year, it was a ritual that the Spaniards tried to annihilate however they failed. Today this ritual is commonly referred to as Día de los Muertos. Hispanics do not celebrate Halloween however they do celebrate el Día de los Muertos.

La ofrenda Ponen en la mesa un mantel blanco con varias decoraciones, por ejemplo: papel picadoel cempasuchitlesqueletos calaverasvelaspan de muerto inciensocomidadulces una fotoaguauna toalla jabónsalatole

La ofrenda La ofrenda tiene cuatro componentes: Tierra Los Mexicanos creen que las almas comen el olor de la cosecha. Viento Es representado por elementos móviles, como el papel picado. Agua Se usa para que la alma beba agua después de un largo camino. Fuego Se representa por una velita. Cada vela es un alma perdida.

The Offerings The offerings are made of 4 main elements: Earth The Mexicans believe that the soul is feed by the aroma of the crops. Wind Often represented with a moving object such as papel picado. Water Often placed in a jug, where a soul may drink after a long journey. Fire Often represented by a candle. Each candle that is lit represents a soul, and an extra candle is lit for the lost soul.

El altar

Las tumbas (de día) Las tumbas (de noche)

Las tumbas del cementerio La gente va a visitar las tumbas de familiares y amigos. Ponen sobre las tumbas y altares cemapsuchitl, esqueletos, calaveras de azúcar, velas, comida, dulces, etc. Luego ponen velas para recordar los espíritus. La preparación del Día de los Muertos comienza dos semanas antes de la celebración.

The tombs in the cemetery The people go to the cemetery to visit their deceased loved ones or deceased friends. In the alters and tombs many put cemapsuchitl, (flower) esqueletos, (skeletons) calaveras de azúcar, (skulls made of sugar),velas, (candles) comida, (food) dulces (candies). The people also have a vigil of candles to remember the souls. Preparation for Día de los Muertos sometimes occurs 2 weeks in advance.

Días Especiales El primero de noviembre : los angelitos. (los niños que se murían) El 2 de noviembre : los muertos. (los adultos que se murían) Nov 1 st : little angles, the children that have died. Nov 2 nd : the dead, adults that have died

In the Cemetery Hispanics go to the cemetery of their deceased loved ones, and they decorate the tombs. They put flowers, food, and lots of candles. They stay in the cemetery until midnight in which they have a vigil with candles and remember their loved ones with lots of love.

En el cementerio Los hispanos van al cementerio y decoran las tumbas. Ponen flores, comida, y muchas velas. Se quedan hasta la media noche con las velas recordando a sus seres queridos.

Las tumbas del cementerio

Pan de muerto

Pan de muerto, "Bread of the Dead” In celebration of Mexico's Day of the Dead, this bread is often shaped into skulls or round loaves with strips of dough rolled out and attached to resemble bones. Pan de Muerto is a sweet bread flavored with anise, orange peel and orange glaze specially made to be placed on ofrendas and graves. The breads are baked for both the living and the dead and come in many different animal and human shapes. More traditional loaves are round with a central raised knob of dough, representing the skull, and crossed bone-shaped decorations radiating from the central knob.

Pan de muerto, "Bread of the Dead" En la celebración del Día de los Muertos se prepara pan de muerto. Este pan tiene forma de calavera o de huesos.

Pan de muerto, "Bread of the Dead" In celebration of Mexico's Day of the Dead, this bread is often shaped into skulls or round loaves with strips of dough rolled out and attached to resemble bones. Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup water 5 to 5-1/2 cups flour 2 packages dry yeast 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon whole anise seed 1/2 cup sugar 4 eggs In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the butter, milk and water until very warm but not boiling. Meanwhile, measure out 1-1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Beat in the warm liquid until well combined. Add the eggs and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for ten minutes until smooth and elastic. Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape into loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves with "bones" placed ornamentally around the top. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour. Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze. Glaze 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons grated orange zest Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush. If desired, sprinkle on colored sugar while glaze is still damp.

Calaveritas

The calaveras (skulls) are made from sugar paste which has been pressed into ceramic molds. These skulls are decorated with flowers and scrolls of colored icing and metalic colored foils. The skulls, bearing the names of the returning souls, are used in the ofrenda but can also be given to living children as treats and exchanged by sweethearts. The consumption of the skulls by the living is done to associate pleasant sensations with the sadness of death.

Las Calaveras

Cempasuchitl

Papel picado

el Papel Picado

Calacas

Las calacas son esqueletos que usan los bailarines. También se usan en la decoración de las ofrendas y en las casas. Están hechas por artistas y se venden para decoración.

Calacas Calacas are skeletons that are used by the dancers and as a source of decoration for the altars in in homes. In some cases the calacas are made by artists, and they are decorated and sold.

Música y danza Los bailarines llevan calacas, que representan fingiendo a las almas que están de visita. Los tambores son otro elemento importante del Día de los Muertos, en el que la música está asociada con lo sobrenatural, la vida y el ritmo.

Music and dances The dancers take calacas, depicting the dead people, and they dress them up to make a play. The drums are another important aspect of el Día de los Muertos, in which the music is associated with the supernatural, vitality and rhythm.

Catrina

Catrina is a symbol that is very prominent in the dia de los muertos. She is now a calaca and was painted by Jose Guadalupe Posada a famous Mexican artist.

Catrina Catrina es el símbolo más conocido del Día de los Muertos. Es una calaca y fue pintada por José Guadalupe Posada, un famoso artista mexicano.

Catrina

Obras de José Guadalupe Posada. Additional work by Jose Guadalupe Posada

Fin (Aplauso)

Resources e s/faculty/entman/RubenWorld/Day_of _the_Dead.htm Angels.html

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