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‘The Day of the Dead’
Art work from
other Cultures:
What is the day of the Dead?
• More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish
Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico,
they saw native Indians practicing a ritual
that seemed to mock death.
The Day of the Dead
• A ritual known today as Dia de los
Muertos, or Day of the Dead, had
been practiced by the local people
at least 3,000 years.
• The Spaniards tried to stamp out
the ritual but were unsuccessful.
• It is still celebrated in Mexico and
certain parts of the USA.
What is The Day of The Dead?
• This ancient festivity has been
changed throughout the years, but
which was originally intended to
celebrate children and the dead.
• The best way to describe this
Mexican holiday is to say that it is
a time when Mexican families
remember their dead, and the
continuity of life.
What is The Day of The Dead?
• Celebrations are held each year in Mesa,
Chandler, Guadalupe and at Arizona
State University.
• Although the ritual has since been
merged with Catholic celebrations, it
still keeps some of the elements of the
Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls.
What is The Day of The Dead?
What is The Day of The Dead?
• The original celebration can be traced
to the festivities held during the Aztec
month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually
presided by the goddess Mictecacihuatl
("Lady of the Dead"), and dedicated to
children and the dead.
• The rituals during this month also
featured a festivity dedicated to the
major Aztec war deity, Huitzilopochtli
("Sinister Hummingbird").
When is the Day of the Dead?
• In the Aztec calendar, the Day of the
Dead ritual fell roughly at the end of
July and the beginning of August.
• The Spanish priests moved the ritual so
that it came at the same time as the
Christian holiday of Halloween (in
Spanish: "Día de Todos Santos,")
• As a result the Mexicans now celebrate
the Day of the Dead during the first
two days of November rather than at
the beginning of summer.
Day of the dead masks
What happens in the
celebrations?
• The day’s activities consist of visits by
families to the graves of their close kin.
• At the gravesites family members start
by sprucing up the gravesite, decorating
it with flowers, setting out and enjoying
a picnic, and interacting socially with
other family and community members
who gather at the cemetery.
• Families remember the departed by
telling stories about them.
What happens in the
celebrations?
• The meals prepared for these picnics are
sumptuous, usually featuring meat dishes in
spicy sauces, a special egg-batter bread,
cookies, chocolate, and sugary confections in a
variety of animal or skull shapes.
• Gravesites or family altars are decorated
with large, bright flowers such as marigolds
and chrysanthemums and adorned with
religious jewellery and (in smaller villages)
with offerings of food, cigarettes and
alcoholic drinks.
What happens in the
celebrations?
• The warm social environment, the
colorful setting, and the abundance of
food, drink and good company this
commemoration of the dead is pleasant
in spite of its morbid subject.
• The festive interaction between living
and dead in an important social ritual
and a way of recognising the cycle of
life and death that is human existence.
Art work of the Day of the Dead
Art work of the Day of the Dead
What happens in the
celebrations?
• The Day of the Dead is a time for the dead to
return home and visit loved ones, feast on
their favorite foods and listen to their
favorite music.
• In the homes, family members honor their
deceased with ofrendas or offerings which
may consist of photographs, bread, other
foods, flowers, toys and other symbolic
offerings.
Calaveras - songs and poems
about the festival
Examples of work by students
Examples of work by students
Examples of work by students
Examples of work by students
Examples of work by students
Examples of work by students
Examples of work by students
David Cation - artist’s work
David Cation - artist’s work
David Cation - artist’s work
Glossary
• alfenique - a special confection used to
fashion skulls, fruits and other figures.
• angelitos - the souls of the children who
have died, literally "little angels"
• atole - an ancient drink made from corn
meal and water flavored with various
fruits.
• calavera - a skull, also a slang term for
"daredevil"
Glossary
• calaveras - songs and poems about the
festival
• careta -a face mask
• cempazuchitl - a yellow marigold, the
symbol of death
• copalli - a scented resin used to make
candles
Glossary
• 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