Día de los Muertos is a communal celebration of life that predates Hispanic invasion and consists of two days - November 1st and 2nd. It honors deceased loved ones whose souls are believed to return to Earth to celebrate with the living. Families set up altars and decorate gravesites with favorite items and flowers to welcome the souls back and guide them home. Traditions vary but include lighting candles in cemeteries to protect souls and remember lives that have passed through seasonal foods, masks, and sweets.

1. Día de los Muertos
A Communal Celebration of Life

2. Brief History
✤ Predates hispanic invasion
(Aztecs)
✤ Skulls-Death and Rebirth
✤ Catholic influences
✤ Thought of as a natural part of
life

3. Basic overview
✤ consists of 2 days
✤ Nov. 1- Día de todos los santos (all saints day)
✤ Nov. 2-Día de muertos (day of the dead)
✤ Souls of the departed return to Earth
✤ Living celebrate the lives of loved ones they have lost
✤ Life is a dream, death is your awakening

4. Altars
✤ Set up on Oct. 31
✤ Usually have 3 “levels”
✤ heaven, earth, underworld
✤ Favorite things left behind
✤ Food, drinks, games, flowers
✤ sights and scents

6. Cemeteries
✤ Crypts used to be located under or near the home
✤ No longer the case
✤ Graves are decorated to welcome loved ones
✤ petals sometimes help guide them home
✤ other times the night is spent in the cemetery
✤ Alumbrada (lightened)- hundreds of candles
✤ removes evil spirits and keeps deceased loved ones safe
✤ Traditions vary from place to place

8. Pan deYema
Seasonal sweet bread

9. Calacas
Wooden mask carved, worn,
placed on altar

10. Calavera Dulce
Sweets for the living to
remember the deceased

11. Thank You!
Feliz Día de los Muertos