Hello My name is Teresa Alfaro and today I will be talking about “The Day of the Dead” or Dia de los Muertos
Day of the Dead is a ritual preformed for the dead people. These rituals have been around for more than 3,000 years. It was introduce by the Spanish Conquistadors, it was when they landed in what we call Mexico. This was back 500 years or more, it was a ritual act of the natives. This seemed to mock the dead.
It may not seem to be a big thing to some but to the Mexican and American see it very important. Even here in the Valley it is celebrated.
The civilizations of Aztecs and Meso-America displayed the skulls as trophies. This was to symbolize the death and rebirth. They believed that the dead would come back and visit with the monthlong ritual. The person would go through nine levels for their final destination. The Aztec also believed that it was how the person die not the way their life was that the soul destiny.
The people of Mesa, Chandler, Guadelupe, and Arizona State University have never stop the celebration each year. Not even when the Catholic’s step in.
First of all the of this event was moved to Nov.1. This was not the original day because the Catholics have all Saints Day, it was a good thing to move it.
According to the Catholic Calendar there is a day which is All Souls Day. This falls on Nov.2. The Catholic wanted the days to be together, for this reason the Day of the Dead got moved. Now both days can be celebrated together.D
These symbols are found thought-out the town. Everyone in the town will dress or paint their faces to honnor the dead
The sugar skulls have been around since the mid 18th century. No one really knows how long they have been around. It could be that they are origin from the Catholics. It was sometimes use as trophies. It is a very big mystery of how they really came from of how long they have been around
The tissue banner are the most popular decoration. The Mestizo village from San Salvador Huixcolotla are know to be the best in making the banners. It has been more than 90 years that they have been making the banners.
They started with scissors and in the 1940’s started to use tiny chisels “fierrito.” they now use 50 different chisels which can cut up to 50 sheets at a time. Angelitos arrive at 3:pm on October 31 so colored banner are up. Then on Nov. 1 at 3:00 they depart. This is when the animas arrive and black with white banners are displayed.
The kind of offerings are food which is partake by the dead and eaten later by the families. The candles are for each dead soul. They place any remembrance of the dead, photos and mementos.
There was a lot of different food that is use on that day. The bread of the dead, and the sugar skull are the main food. The kind of food was the wishes of the deceased. There could be fruits tamales cakes or any food that the dead person enjoyed. The sugar skull would have the name of each family member still alive.
The bread is done by the Master baker and help from the town. There are three kinds of bread and many shapes. The bread must be place on the altar and each visitor of the family will receive a loaf.
The candles are a big part of the ritual. There is four on the top level and one for every dead as well. Hope and faith is represented by the candles. There should be candles lit through out the night. The reason is that there should not be any darkness during the night.
What happens in the grave site the people get together and clean the graves during the day. Then at night they have the ritual celebaration.
The alters are full of many thing just for the dead. There is also scent burned that night from the Mexican tree sap. It was from the Aztecs that it was use to honor the gods. The scent is use to bring the spirits to bring the dead home. There is also item place near the spirits so that they can return clean. These items are: soap, washbasin, a mirror and a comb for the dead.
These are the reference that were use to do the power-point
Thank you for your time,hope you enjoyed the presentation
