The Day of the Dead is a Mexican national holiday celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd to honor deceased loved ones. Mexicans create altars and visit cemeteries to remember the departed and believe their spirits return to visit families. The holiday has roots in Aztec traditions but became intertwined with Catholicism after the Spanish conquest, incorporating All Saints' Day. Families make ofrendas or offerings for the spirits and participate in other traditions like baking bread of the dead.

1. By: Rosalinda LeClair

2.  The Day of the Dead is
a national holiday in
Mexico – although
celebrated in other
Hispanic countries –
to honor the departed
 Can be compared to
our Halloween

3.  Mexicans think of death differently than we do
 They celebrate the memories of the departed,
not the fact that they have died
 They believe that the spirits of the dead visit
their families on October 31st until November
2nd

4.  During the time of the
Aztecs, a month-long
summer celebration was
overseen by the goddess
Mictecacihuatl, the Lady
of the Dead
 After the Aztecs were
conquered by Spain the
custom became
intertwined with All
Saints’ Day

5.  Families make elaborate
altars to welcome the
departed spirits’ home
 Decorated with flowers,
pictures, candles, figures,
incense, etc.
 Vigils are held
 Families go to
cemeteries
 Families buy or bake el
pan
de muerto (bread of the
dead)

6. "Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)." Dia De
Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). N.p., n.d. Web. 31
Oct. 2012.
<http://www3.niu.edu/newsplace/nndia.htm
l>.
"Day of the Dead in Mexico." Day of the Dead in
Mexico. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.dayofthedead.com/>.