![]() There are a lot of aspects to these elaborate altars, the most common symbolizing the four main elements: water, fire, earth and wind. One of the most important traditions of this holiday is the preparation of ofrendas (altars) to honor loved ones who have passed away as they make their journey to Earth. It is a holiday mainly celebrated by Mexico and other Latin American countries. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, takes place on Nov. If you use it (or parts of it), please give credit with a link to. I hope you come to enjoy Day of the Dead as much as I do!įair Use This history is © Reign Trading Co. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the memories of our loved ones who are now gone… through art, cooking, music, building ofrendas, doing activities with our children, we can recount family stories, fun times and lessons learned… not how the person died, but how they lived. It is more of a cultural holiday than a religious one. There is nothing as beautiful as a big, fancy, unusual sugar skull!Īlthough it is a holiday from far away in southern Mexico, it’s a holiday one can personalize and integrate into their own religious and cultural beliefs. These wonderful artisans are disappearing as fabricated and imported candy skulls take their place. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Clay molded sugar figures of angels, sheep and sugar skulls go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Mexico, abundant in sugar production and too poor to buy fancy imported European church decorations, learned quickly from the friars how to make sugar art for their religious festivals. The first Church mention of sugar art was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made to adorn the side altars in the Catholic Church. Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. ~ perhaps because we don’t have a way to celebrate and honor our dead, or maybe it’s because of our fascination with it’s mysticism Day of the Dead is becoming very popular in the U.S. People clean tombs, play cards, listen to the village band and reminisce about their loved ones. 2, the festivities are taken to the cemetery. They believe that happy spirits will provide protection, good luck and wisdom to their families. Many spend over two month’s income to honor their dead relatives. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets, provide the final touches.ĭay of the Dead is a very expensive holiday for these self-sufficient, rural based, indigenous families. 2, cigarettes and shots of mezcal are offered to the adult spirits. ![]() Toys and candies are left for the angelitos, and on Nov. The altar needs to have lots of food, bottles of soda, hot cocoa and water for the weary spirits. They are decorated with candles, buckets of flowers (wild marigolds called cempasuchil & bright red cock’s combs) mounds of fruit, peanuts, plates of turkey mole, stacks of tortillas and big Day of the Dead breads called pan de muerto. In most Indian villages, beautiful altars ( ofrendas) are made in each home. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them. They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children ( angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. Even though this coincides with the Catholic holiday called All Soul’s & All Saint’s Day, the indigenous people have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones. History of Day of the Dead ~ Día de los Muertosĭay of the Dead is an interesting holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico during the chilly days of November 1 & 2.Teacher tips ~ how to make large batches of sugar skulls. ![]() South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands ($).
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