Día de los Muertos The Monarch Butterflies migrate every year from North to South to escape the harsh winters. The Aztecs believed that spirits of the dead would return every year to visit their families.

The Aztec Indians did not view death as the end of life, they viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they mocked and embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.

When the Spaniards arrived in what is México today, they perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan. As the Spaniards attempted to convert the Aztecs to Catholicism, they moved the special time to accommodate their Christian beliefs, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years and a ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. A ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Today, Día de los Muertos is celebrated from October 31 to November 2. October 31st the graves and ofrendas are prepared. November 1st is known as All Saints Day or el Día de los Angelitos and the day is dedicated for the deceased children. November 2nd is All Souls Day and the day is to remember the adults who have died. The ancient ritual has merged with Christian tradition although many of the original celebrations remain today.

An ancient tradition… This altar was built in honor of Aztec athletes who became sacrifices to the gods. Villagers in Mixquic, Mexico often find human bones during excavations and bring them to the altar at the cemetery at the Parroquia San Andres Apostal Church.

Following the Traditions People visit the cemetery and decorate the gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. Toys for the children and adult favorites are left at the grave site for the deceased. People at the cemetery sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat their favorite food of their loved ones. Families build ofrendas in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. Ofrendas have flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They are decorated with marigolds and sugar skulls which symbolize death and rebirth. People wear wooden masks (calacas) and dance in honor of the dead. Candles are lit and place at the altar. It is said that the light guides the souls to their homes.

Processions commemorate the death and are made to the church or cemeteries.

Family members clean the graves of loved ones in preparation of the celebration. Elaborate displays are planned.

Some processions end at the cemetery.

An example of a decorated gravesite. The mask is not associated to DDLM. The mask shows the mixture of DDLM and Halloween. The two holidays do not represent the same thing.

Paying their respect and commemorating the lives of the deceased. El Panteon por la Noche

. Flowers decorate a grave in the cemetery in Mixquic, Mexico.

Death is mocked.

Y en las casas Altares con arco, y ofrendas de flores, pan de muerto y comida

celebrated. Skeleton dolls and toys are made for living children to Photos of saints of particular importance to the family sit on the altar along with photos of the deceased relatives the family is waiting for. Candles are always present on the altars. They are usually made from beeswax or parafin and come in different shapes, sizes and designs. Families light candles on the altars and on the gravesite of the deceased. 3. Food: Pan de muertos (Bread of the Dead) represent the souls of the dead. The essence or soul of the bread is consumed by the dead when they visit their loved ones. Other foods associated with Day of the Dead include mole and tamales. For children, sweets and other foods are left for the dead to eat when they come to visit. 4. Flowers, which symbolize the brief life of man, are used as an offering on the altars. Alter builders must rely on a network of relatives and neighbors, or purchase flowers for their display. 5. Calaveras: In Mexico, death is something to be celebrated. Skeleton dolls and toys are made for living children to play with. Thus, the child's first acquain-tance with death is a cheerful one.

Honoring loved ones who have passed with ofrendas… Grade school students at Cristobol Colon school in Mixquic, Mexico, bring their home-made altars to be displayed at the school during the three-day Dia de los Muertos celebration

Pan de muertos (Bread of the Dead) represent the souls of the dead. The essence or soul of the bread is consumed by the dead when they visit their loved ones. Most of the bread loaves are shaped as ovals (said to be the shape of one's soul), though each loaf may vary with different ingredients and decorations. In some parts of Mexico, the bread may be shaped as humans or animals.

Other foods Mole is usually set out for adult spirits. The thick sauce made from chilis, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, chocolate and/or fruit is thought to be too spicy for the child spirits. Tamales made from meat, cheese or nuts are also added to the altar. Children might get a sweeter version of the tamale made with fruit.

Cempasuchil Yellow marigolds, known as "the flower of the dead," and other fragrant flowers are used to communicate to the spirits the richness of the offering. Sometimes paths of marigold petals are created by families to aid the souls in finding their way home.

Calaveras de azucar A street vendor in Mixquic, Mexico prepares a candy skull, decorated with seeds and chocolate from the region. The candy skulls are an important part of the Dia de los Muertos altars.

Poking fun at death…. Calaveras son cómicas

Calaveras They may look spooky, but skulls are a symbol of life and regeneration in Mexico. They are comical to poke fun at death, that did not “win” since the dead are celebrated, and enjoy life after death.

Banderas de papel picado A traditional decoration… banderas and flores Crafting and handmade decorations have a long tradition in Day of the Dead celebrations as well as other fiestas central to Latin cultures. Instead of using store bought decorations for your altar or party, simple crafts like the ones below can make this Día de los Muertos one to remember. Papel picado, tissue paper with intricate cut out designs, is hung across the front of the altar to give it a celebratory feel.

Dia de los muertos is not a scary holiday! Come the end of the month, it's not at all uncommon to see scary skeletons lurking around the neighborhoods, thanks to Halloween. But thanks to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), friendly skeletons are just as welcome. The Mexican holiday, Nov. 1 and 2, celebrates the wondrous cycle of life by recognizing - but not fearing - death. It is a day to reflect on the warm and fuzzy memories and share happy stories, rather than mourning the absence of the dearly departed. It's believed that the spirits of our loved ones return on these special days to be with family and friends. We welcome them by dedicating a variety of festive, colorful activities in their honor, such as building an ofrenda that includes that individual's favorite foods, hobbies, music, pictures and more.

Vocabulario de dia de los muertos Alfeñique - una confección especial utilizada para hacer calaveras, frutas y otros figurines. Altar de muertos - la ofrenda que los familiares y/o amigos preparan para los seres queridos que han fallecido. Angelitos - las almas de los niños que han muerto. Literalmente significa "pequeños angelitos". Arco - arco decorativo que en ocasiones se coloca en las tumbas o el altar de los muertos. Atole - bebida antigua hecha de harina de maíz y agua con sabores de frutas. Calacas - figurines que representan a la muerte. Calavera -una calavera, que en su expresión idiomática significa "atrevido" Calaveras - canciones y poemas que le cantan a la celebración. Calaveritas de azúcar - calaveras de azúcar hechas específicamente para celebrar el Día de los Muertos. Careta - máscara que utilizan los danzantes para ahuyentar a los muertos al final de la celebración. Catrina - Famoso icono del Día de los muertos hecha por el artista José Guadalupe Posada. Catrina significa una mujer rica, dicho de una manera sarcástica.

Cempazuchitl - una flor amarilla, símbolo de la muerte, también conocida como Cempasuchil o zempasuchitl Copalli - aceite aromático utilizado para hacer incienso Golletes - pan en forma de corona cubierta de azúcar, la cual es colocada en el altar. Iluminación - la ceremonia que se celebra en el cementerio donde se encienden cientos de velas. Mole - una salsa espesa hecha de una gran variedad de ingredientes incluyendo chilis, semillas de girasol, hierbas, especias, chocolate y frutas. Ofrenda - una ofrenda, referente a las cosas que se colocan en el altar. Pan de los muertos - pan de los muertos o pan de finados. Papel picado - papel de colores con complicados diseños.

Day of the Dead Vocabulary alfenique - a special confection used to fashion skulls, fruits and other figures. altar de muertos - the offering that family and/or friends prepare for their dead loved ones angelitos - the souls of the children who have died, literally "little angels" arco - decorated arch sometimes placed on the graves or on the altar de muertos atole - an ancient drink made from corn meal and water flavored with various fruits. calacas - whimsical skeleton figures that represent death calavera - a skull, also a slang term for "daredevil" calaveras - songs and poems about the festival calaveritas de azúcar - sugar skulls made for the Día de los Muertos careta - mask worn by dancers to scare the dead away at the end of the celebrations catrina - Famed Día de los Muertos artist José Guadalupe Posada's icon of death. Catrina means: a wealthy woman, it is said in a sarcastic manner. cempazuchitl - a yellow marigold, the symbol of death, also known as Cempasuchil or zempasuchitl copalli - a scented resin used to make incense Día de los Muertos - Day of the Dead Día Todos los Santos - All Saints' Day golletes - A doughnut shaped bread, glazed with pink colored sugar that is placed on the altar. Iluminación - The ceremony that takes place in the cemetary, where hundreds of candles are lighted to guide the souls to their altars. mole - a thick sauce made from a variety of ingredients including chilis, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, chocolate/fruit. ofrenda - an offering, refers to the goods set out on the altars pan de los muertos - bread of the dead papel picado - colorful tissue paper with intricate, festive designs cut out