Calacas & Calaveras Abound During Dia de los Muertos
Although occurring around the same time of the year as Halloween, Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, celebrated in many Latin American countries, is a very different holiday, with a very different focus.
This festival to celebrate the unity of life and death, is considered by many to be the most important holiday of the year in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is the time once a year, when the spirits of loved ones who have died, return to earth to celebrate this holiday with friends and family.
Calacas and Calaveras (Skeletons and Skulls) are prominently featured in many of the Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead celebrations, not as objects of fear, but as ways of mocking death.
In addition to the Latin American countries, Dia de los Muertos is also celebrated in many regions in the United States, Brazil and the Philippines.
Even if not traditionally from your cultural background, Dia de los Muertos is a unique way of keeping the memories alive of those who have died.
Contents at a Glance
- Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos
- Books about Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos
- Is Dia de los Muertos the same as Halloween?
Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos
October 31 marks the beginning of the fiesta of what we refer to in the United States as the Day of the Dead - El dia de los Muertos.Commonly referred to as the Day of the Dead, it is more accurate to say Los Dias de los Muertos (the Days of the Dead), since the fiesta is several days long, from October 31 - November 2.
The dates may coincide with Halloween, yet Day of the Dead is not related to the All Hallows' Eve celebrated in the States. The Day of the Dead is a day for people to celebrate the lives and the memories of those who have crossed the river separating life from death. It is a time when the departed souls are allowed to come back to the world for a visit.
Daily Activities
On October 31 (our Halloween) families begin preparing the food, decorations and the altar (ofrenda) that will be used during the festivities. November 1 (All Saints' Day*) is the day that the angelitos (spirits of the dead children) arrive. November 2 (All Souls' Day*) is the day for the spirits of the adults arrival.
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* All Saints' Day is a feast celebrated in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. For the Roman Catholic Church, All Saints' Day honors those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. It is celebrated on November 1.
* All Souls' Day is the day in Western Christianity, commemorating the faithful departed. This day is observed especially in the Roman Catholic Church but to some extent also among Protestants. It is celebrated on November 2.
Source: Wikipedia. Day of the Dead.
Image Source: Miguel Ugalde. Deth's Coming. Royalty Free Use.
Books about Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos
Available on Amazon
Day Of The Dead Through The Eyes Of The Soul: Mexico City (Great Heartlanders Series)
Amazon Price: $22.58 (as of 12/04/2008) 
Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead: The Day of the Dead in Mexico and Beyond
Amazon Price: $24.25 (as of 12/04/2008)
The Days of the Dead: Mexico's Festival of Communion with the Departed
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 12/04/2008)
The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico
Amazon Price: $26.56 (as of 12/04/2008)
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico - Michoacan (Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/04/2008)
Is Dia de los Muertos the same as Halloween?
A Look at these two Fall Holidays
Dia de los Muertos is often compared to Halloween in part because they both have skeletons and skulls as decorations. These two fall festival celebrations are very different, with very different origins.Halloween is based on a European holiday, All Hallows Eve, the day before All Hallows Day or All Saints' Day (November 1). It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions.
The skeletons and skulls in Halloween (along with the other monsters, demons, goblins and witches) are objects of fear.
Mark Lacy with Houston's Institute for Culture offers these insights into the Day of the Dead and Halloween:
Much like El Día de los Muertos, Halloween was developed by prehistoric cultures -- Druids, Romans, and Celtics -- to live harmoniously in the cycle of the seasons, the harvest, and most importantly, the continuous circle of life.
Mexicans understand El Dia de los Muertos in much the same light-hearted context that many Americans understand Halloween.
With the pervasiveness of American mass culture on the airwaves, the renewed pride in local culture is seen particularly in El Día de los Muertos, as altars are displayed in public places, civic buildings, libraries, and even in the heart of the beast -- McDonald's and Wal-mart.
Sources:
Ladislao Loera. About Dia de los Muertos. Dia De Los Muertos | Day of the Dead Website.
Lacy M. 2004. Origina of el dia de los Muertos. The Prehispanic Festival of the Dead Defies Cultural Invasions of Mexico. Houston Institute for Culture.
Photo Source:
Indigo Goat. Meeter and Greeter at fiesta Mehicana. Some Rights Reserved. Creative Commons.
Keeping a Vigil for Dia de Los Muertos Print
A Different Cultural Perspective of Death - Death is Familiar
- The word death is not pronounced in New York, in Paris, in London, because it burns the lips.
The Mexican, in contrast, is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it; it is one of his favorite toys and his most steadfast love.
Octavio Paz
Nobel laureate
Image Source: Zeldaloo Studios. Day of the Dead Sugar Skull. Some Rights Reserved. Creative Commons.
Skulls and Skeletons for Day of the Dead Sections
Day of the Dead Photographic Print
More Resources on Day of the Dead
- Day of the Dead - Dia De Los Muertos
- Day of the Dead, azcentral.com's coverage of Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos, a three-day Mexican holiday to honor and celebrate loved ones who have died.
- Day of the Dead in Mexico
- Day of the Dead website. Features award winning author and photographer, Mary J. Andrade as she explores the rich history and tradition surrounding the Day of the Dead ritual in Mexico.
- Mexican Tradition - Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos
- The Day of the Dead - A time when Mexico honors those gone but not forgotten.
- Day of the Dead, El Dia de Muertos
- One of the most beautiful and meaningful rituals is El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, and particularly impressive is the celebration that takes place in Janitzio,Michoacan.
- Dia De Los Muertos | Day of the Dead: Day of the Dead
- Dedicated to the Mexican holiday, el dia de los muertos - Day of the Dead. Information on altar making, the history of the holiday and Day of the Dead art.
- Traditions of Mexico - El Dia de los Muertos y Mas
- An extensive look at the Traditions of Mexico, in particular Dia de los Muertos by the Houston Institute for Culture.
- The Altar - Day of the Dead in Mexico
- The Day of the Dead celebration includes an altar and offerings dedicated to the deceased from the award winning Day of the Dead in Mexico site.
- Day of The Dead Blog
- Author Mary J. Andrade shares her shares her experiences about the celebration of the Day of the Dead tradition in Mexico, the United States and other parts of the world.
Using Skulls and Skeletons to Teach Children About Dia de los Muertos
Desentizing Children to Death
In Mexico, children are often given skeleton toys, as a representation of death, so their first encounter with death isn't a fearful one. Playing with the skeleton toys helps teach children that life is for the living, and is to be lived until the time we die.Teaching children to be less fearful of skeletons as representations of death is something that I have been working on for a few years. I have developed special teaching sessions for both of my daughters' classes around our Halloween using skeleton puzzles as a way to desensitize them to skeletons. These activities, projects and suggestions have been collected in the Doin' the Bone Dance Lens.
These activities could be easily used or modified with the Day of the Dead and Dia de los Muertos.
There are several points when developing activities to help children be less fearful of skeletons:
- 1. Develop other (more realistic) views of skulls and skeletons rather than just as an object of death
2. Find ways of remembering and honoring loved ones.
3. Desensitize the children to skeletons as objects to fear during the Day of the Dead.
4. Use skulls and skeletons as a way of celebrating the life of a loved on who has died.
5. Learn a bit about anatomy.
Day of the Dead Activities Suitable for Children
Printable Modules for Teachers and Parents
- Day of the Dead Activities Brochure
- A Day of the Dead Activity Sheet for children created by the Tohono Chul Park in Arizona featuring information on making a La Ofrenda, Calaveras de Azucar, a Papel Picado pattern.
- Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos - For Teachers
- Day of the Dead educational material for teachers and students.
- Day of the Dead Education Packet
- PDF File of the Azcentral.com's extensive this extensive education packet as part of their Dia de los Muertos site. The packet includes puzzles, coloring pages, Papel Picado lesson plan with template, a Calavera mask and Skeleton puppet.
- Lesson Plan - Day of the Dead, or "Dia de los Muertos"
- A lesson plan for celebrating Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos developed for 4th - 5th grade level by Andrea Pretti.
- Mexico's Day of the Dead (Lesson Plan) - TeacherVision.com
- Students can gain an understanding that various cultures have differing views of life and death by by studying the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos.
- Dia De Los Muertos Lesson Plan 1 - Remembering
- The purpose of this lesson is to show children how the lives of people can be celebrated by remembering the lives of people that have died and give them a connection to relatives or others they may no longer have with them.
Day of the Dead Crafts in the Amazon Spotlight
Day of the Dead Crafts: More than 24 Projects that Celebrate Dia de los Muertos
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/04/2008)
Day of the Dead Crafts is filled with many of terrific projects that allow people to creatively participate in the excitement of the holiday.
Projects include Calaveras, Masks and Skulls, Ofrendas, Necklaces, Bracelets and more.
More Day of the Dead Craft Items Available on Amazon
Mexican Folk Art Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book)
Amazon Price: $3.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Day of the Dead Placemats & Crayons Art Set
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Masks: Curiosity Kits Day of the Dead Masks
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Day of the Dead Coloring Cards & Crayons
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Books for Children about Day of the Dead
Available on Amazon
Felipa and the Day of the Dead
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 12/04/2008)
Clatter Bash!: A Day of the Dead Celebration
Amazon Price: $11.96 (as of 12/04/2008)
Day of the Dead
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 12/04/2008)
Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead with Cristina and Her Blue Bunny (Stories to Celebrate)
Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Helping Children Remember those Who have Died
A Family Celebration of Life and Death
People prepare special meals and decorations, sit on the decorated graves, share stories and memories, sing songs, play music, spending the night with the spirits of their departed loved ones.
Many people not raised with the tradition of the Day of the Dead find solace in this lighter, cheerful, family-oriented approach to the subject of death. Dia de los Muertos is a unique way of keeping the memories alive of those who have died.
More Day of the Day Books for Children
Available on Amazon
I Remember Abuelito / Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story / Un Cuento Del Dia De Los Muertos
Amazon Price: $13.76 (as of 12/04/2008)
El Dia De Los Muertos: The Day of the Dead (Rookie Read-About Holidays)
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead
Amazon Price: $10.92 (as of 12/04/2008)
The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story/El Espiritu De Tio Fernando : Una Historia Del Dia De Los Muertos
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 12/04/2008)
Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life and Death (First Facts)
Amazon Price: $17.22 (as of 12/04/2008)
Calacas and Calaveras - Skeletons and Skulls
As with Halloween, Calacas (Skeletons) and Calaveras (Skulls) are prominently featured in all of the celebrations and activities for the Day of the Dead.People wear calacas (skull) masks and dance to remember their deceased relatives. Celebrants may joke and make fun of death, represented by the Calaveras, the skeletons.
Skulls in different forms are dedicated to the dead relatives and placed on altars. Sugar, chocolate and amaranth skulls are created with the name of the dead person on the skull's forhead and then given to each other, so they can eat their own death.
Photo Source:
Jait. Day of the Dead Candy. Some Rights Reserved. Creative Commons.
Day of the Dead Skeleton Mariachis Print
Day of the Dead Skulls and Skeletons
Available on Amazon
Vote for your favorite Day of the Dead - Dia de Los Muertos items.
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Dias de los Muertos Mighty Magnets Set of 10 magnets
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Day of the Dead Calendar, 2008
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Sunny Buick Sugar Skulls Journal
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Dia de los Muertos Groom Mask
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Mexican Folk Art Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Marty Noble
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Day of the Dead Wedding, 6 X 6 Decorative Wall Tile
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Day of the Dead Skeletons and Skulls on Flickr
A collection of Calacas and Calavaras from the Dia de los Muertos.
Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos on Ebay
Day of the Dead and Dia de los Muertos items and products on from Ebay.
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A Cultural View of Death and Posada's Skeletons
The popular engravings of Mexican artist Antonio Guadalupe Posada resemble the woodcuts of the medieval danse macabre, in which people from all walks of life danced fearfully with their own skeletons, although Posada's skeletons seem to have no anxious premonitions about death.
Source:
DeSpelder LA. Strickland AL. 2005. The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying. 7th Edition. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill.
A Squidoo Lens on the Artwork of Day of the Dead
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Day of the Dead Art
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History, information and opinions on Day of the Dead, a celebrated holiday in Mexico, and the effect it has on the world at large.
Silver and Sparkly - Skulls and Skeleton
Skulls and Skeleton Jewelry on Amazon
La Calavera de la Catrina
La Calavera de la Catrina is a 1913 zinc etching by the deceased printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.While not popular in its time, the image of La Catrina has since become a staple of Mexican imagery, and is often incorporated into artistic representations of the Day of the Dead such as altars (ofrendas) and calavera costumes.
It was part of his series of calaveras, which were humorous images of contemporary figures depicted as skeletons, often accompanied by a poem.
Image Source:
"Calavera de la Catrina" by José Guadalupe Posada. Public Domain due to Age.
La Catrina Art Work Print
More Images of La Catrina
La Catrina is a figure commonly found in Mexico and featured during the celebration of the Day of the Dead.La Catrina is a figure created by the Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posadas in the early 1900's. The word catrin or catrina means well dressed or dressed very elegant.
Posadas, satirize the mexican women of high society by representing them as skulls and skeletons. These were the ladies who enjoyed walking in the parks of Mexico City, with their beautiful hats and elegant dresses.
Todays La Catrina has become a classic representation of the Death in Mexico, with her big hat and elegant presence. La Catrina has become an icon of the Day of the death.
Image Source:
Wikipedia. Wikimedia. Dominik. Catrina Sculpture. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
