The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos) is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated November 1st and 2nd where families commemorate and reunite with deceased loved ones. It is considered a festive rather than sad occasion. Families set up ofrendas or altars in their homes with photos, favorite foods and personal items of the deceased to welcome their spirits back for a brief reunion.

1. Where is the day of the dead celebrated?_____Mexico_________________________________
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html
1) When is it celebrated? _____November 1st and 2nd _____________________________________
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html
2) What is pan de muerto? ______It is “bread of the dead” which is a traditional sweet bread. ____
(under the cartoon, click on FOOD)
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
3) Is the day of the dead considered a sad time or a festive one? __It is considered a time for rejoicing.___
http://www.holidays.net/halloween/muertos.htm
4) What is an ofrenda? (give details)___Ofrendas are altars that families set up with fruit, flowers, and candy.__
Why are they set up? They are set up for deceased family mambers. ________________________
Where are they typically set up? _They are usually set up in the homes of the family members of the deceased.__________
http://www.inside-mexico.com/ofrenda.htm
5) What are calacas?__They are whimsical skeletal figures that represent death.___________________________________
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/glossary/
6) View a traditional altar: Under the cartoon click on Altar Documentary.
Then, name the seven things that typically can be found on an altar on “Día de los muertos”?
Do this by clicking on the numbers: http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/altar#
1. _A Photo_______________________ 4.___Personal items _______________
2._A Feast ______________________ 5.__ Items that represent their life ___
3. Grooming Items _______________ 6.___Incense _________________
7.__Flowers______________________
7) View a video (2min: 11sec) : Watch this video and any others you would like to see to get a good idea of what El Día de los Muertos is all about.
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/video/
Summarize in 2-3 sentences what you would tell someone who doesn’t know anything about El Día de los Muertos but wants to know what it is:
_The Day of the Dead is basicly a traditional Mexican holiday in which family and friends celebrate the coming back of the deceased. They __
_set up altars in which they leave candles, food, candy, sweets, and other items the deceased person enjoyed. ____________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________