- DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS WHAT IS DÍA DE MUERTOS?

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W H A T I S D A Y O F T H E D E A D ?

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday celebrated by people all over the world. The holiday is associated with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day but has a much deeper history started by the Aztecs some 3,000 years ago. The holiday has many names but all of them are celebrated at the begging of fall and are about remembering the dead. The holiday includes spending time with family, visiting the family grave site, creating memorials for dead family, friends, or important people, and coming together as a community to celebrate with food and colorful decorations. DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS LESSON PLAN

S U B J E C T : B I L I N G U A L , S P A N I S H , A R T , H I S T O R Y G R A D E S : K - 1 2 O B J E C T I V E

T O D E M O N S T R A T E S T U D E N T S D I F F E R E N T A S P E C T S O F D I A D E L O S M U E R T O S A N D H O W I T I S C E L E B R A T E D I N L A T I N C O M M U N I T I E S I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H R O U G H O U T L A T I N A M E R I C A

NATIONAL STANDARDS & BENCHMARKS FOR THIS STANDARD: Know the holidays and ceremonies of different societies (e.g., Day of The Dead, Cinco de Mayo, etc.) Understand the daily life, history, and beliefs of a country as reflected in dance, music, or other arts.

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration held in Mexico and in Central American countries where family members commemorate their ancestors in a way that is different from customs in the United States.

This important holiday is held on November 1 and November 2. It is a holiday that mixes parts of Roman Catholicism with Native American traditions and that pre-date the arrival of the Spanish in the Americas as well as many secular modern cultural traditions.

This holiday, which falls at the same time as , is different in many ways and does not include elements such as witches, zombies or ghouls. Both holidays, however, do share a common visual connection with the presence of skeletons, skulls, , and imagery about the but while Halloween is associated with fun or scary costumes and trick-or-treating, Dia de los Muertos is more of a memorial holiday associated with parades and visiting family. Costumes appropriate at a day of the dead parade or festival include traditional dress, calcas or skeletons and catrina calaveras.

A S S E S S M E N T & C O N T E X T F O R I N S T R U C T O R S

After this lesson, students should be familiar with the holiday, Dia de los Muertos, celebrated by US Latinos and others in Latin America by reviewing its origins, some of its vocabulary, and by producing their own projects inspired by the holiday from a series of simple activities attached to this lesson plan.

Notes:______DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS READING ASSIGNMENT

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H O W I S I T D Í A D E M U E R T O S C E L E B R A T E D I N L A T I N C O M M U N I T I E S I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D L A T I N A M E R I C A ?

Day of the Dead, is a celebration in Mexico and in many Central American countries where family members create memorials for their deceased family, friends and ancestors. This holiday is held on November 1 and November 2. It is a holiday that mixes parts of modern traditions with indigenous traditions that pre-date the arrival of the Spanish in the Americas. The holiday may be called Dia de los Muertos, Día de los Difuntos or Dia de Muertos.

This holiday, which falls at about the same time as Halloween, is a very different holiday. It is not associated with costumes and trick-or-treating but does include Muertos holiday clothing which is often colorful, face paint, lots of food and cooking, candy, sugar sculpting, art with skeletons and themes about death and celebrating the lives of those who have passed on with nostalgia and mementos.

Throughout the Dia de Muertos holiday families come together and celebrate by feasting on foods (such as pan de muerto or calaveras de azucar), and playing or singing the songs which were favored by their deceased friends and relatives. Families often set up offerings or altars called ofrendas, at home, in public and at the with candles, flowers and photos of past loved ones.

Ofrendas, are memorials often decorated with art, photos, marigolds, papel picado, cut-out tissue paper flags and calaveras, which are colorful decorated skulls made of papier-mache or sugar.

Some also celebrate by creating calavera literaria, honorary or funny poems or songs in the form of a sentimental verse, mocking epitaph, or sometimes a political or friendly satire.

C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G

Now that you are familiar with the holiday, Dia de los Muertos, think about how the holiday is celebrated and compare it to your families traditions for remembering family members and loved ones who have died. What are those traditions? Do they include flowers, photos or passing down recipes? How are they the same or different from the traditions of Día de los Muertos? ______DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS VOCABULARY DEFINITIONS

N A M E : D A T E : H E L P F U L D E F I N I T I O N S F O R R E S E A R C H el altar de la ofrenda - the altar of the offering la danza de los viejitos - the dance of the old people (a humorous dance in which the dancers elaltar de muertos - the offering prepared for the wear masks of old people) deceased el Día de los Muertos - the Day of the Dead el angélito -the little angels of children el Día Todos los Santos - All Saints’ Day el arco -the arch, a decorative archway el esqueleto -the skeleton el ataúd - the coffin los dulces -the candies el atole - the hot drink made of corn, water and fruit flavorings las flores -the flowers la calaca en papel maché -the paper maché los gollettes - the doughnut-shaped breads, with figure pink sugar on them el candelero -the candlestick la guitarra -the guitar las calacas -the skeletal figures that represent la iluminación -the illumination (the ceremony in death the cemetery, during which hundreds of lit candles are lit la calavera -the skull los mariachis -the Mexican musicians las calavera literaria - the songs and poems written for the celebration la mariposa -the butterfly la calavera de azúcar - the sugar skull la máscara -the mask las caretas - the masks worn to scare off bad luck el mole - the thick sauce made from chilis, sesame seeds, spices, chocolate and fruit (a food las catrinas - the skeletons, dressed like rich typically eaten for this holiday, as well as many women, who represent death other special days) el cementerio - the cemetery las ofrendas - the offerings el cempasúchil (cempazúchil) -the Mexican el pan de los muertos -the bread of the dead marigold el papel picado - the paper cut-out, decoratively el flor de muertos -the flower of the dead another cut paper flags in bright colors name for the cempsúchil or marigold los serapes - the Mexican blankets el copal - the incense la tumba -the grave la cruz -the cross

Notes:______DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS VOCABULARY SEARCH

N A M E : D A T E : V O C A B U L A R Y S E A R C H , S P A N I S H A N D E N G L I S H

S N V O K V B O K E L M P L W U L B U G O E I Q N Z U V O I U Z X Y D R A J U G V S V Y W X W J N I O Y T N L H Y Z B I M N J M L D K M D Q W I F X Y Y C D Y F V L O T N E Y P E S R E N R K U R U W U C D X B A O W K S H R E X Q J H I C Y X V C U D V O D U U E D O T T E A K B T E Z C R W S L P P L Z H O L N C E W P A I Y E J D B J M D T L U O Y P O D I S N T C G T B C L O R G D L B P K L T Q C D P T H E Y T S M E O P D N A S G N O S E H T K W A A L O S M A R I A C H I S C T W L C I O H U M O R O U S D A N C E U B H C Y S J R H C G G Y O G Q O C P W H B K S G S C T E T R E E U C L O N A P Y G E T Q I O E E E Q J O E A A R P J X I W Z Z S F X C U S E J P C O F O L I M S O H L H K P T L G Q Q F L N V Z P B G Y L N C X E B S N U Z Z D C K T S L X F O V P N C E X A R D Ú A T A L E L X X U Q A V K Z X U R P A N K L G E X Q A X Z F O V S U A L S C E Y X H L C E H N T D Q I B I S O T R E U M S O L E D N A P L E O Y Z S T N O X J U C E T G D T Q F P T F L J G N T J I A N M E X I C A N M U S I C I A N S D T M F M D A E L A T O L E L F M E G E J V D D K H O Y V J P X A L T A R O F T H E O F F E R I N G S E O U V D M O F R D M B S O T I J E I V S O L E D A Z N A D A L U S A D N E R F O S A L K Y E Z F P K Y E Y F S Q C U T P A P E R C U T O U T P E P D E R S L W G S L C U S B Y L C H F R L O T I L É G N A L E K Ú R S I U A I E R Q M L O P A V E P E B I U W Y T O L U T E C H P G R O A Z Y G Z C A R P I R H D O U W M L P U R G Y T D D V L H V Z G P C S N E T J O F Q T K A A C E B P J K A B E Z F O F S A Y B J K N A A E Z U I T N E Q Y D F O U A S C E L R T G V U N Q R R V F C L L P P D A X E R I A M J F L A C V U R E L C A O D D M Z N L I I C S Q T E C E L E E E V D W K C L R W S L A D L S E E F A S R D C A K I E A I S W U I O Q A V L G S A M V L V J U C A H A S O U N C Z L T D R J C R R Z M S D C R S J S G U D A N S R B S I T L M H B R T C D D D V A N E E L H H E L X E F R V S E S R P Í G S A G T H Q A X U I M P B E A A S X C I C T T É F F V A L C L J O E V I T A R O C E D J H G A B J N H T U L T C O A A A D B F O F B A P P L O S V S S H D C K U A L R Z V Y L E L A R C O E R I L S N L H I A O D F L O W E R O F T H E D E A D L T Z M N P W C Y C T P Ú K I P L D L O G I R A M N A C I X E M E I L L U M I N A T I O N Q L P H I H W Z S N L L A G U I T A R R A C L A I S K A O Z C E Q W L C I C I N K O Y I Ó A D C P A E V A R G H O E X H T A E D T N E S E R P E R M C A L H X T T E A L N R T X M S P R E D E D É H C A M L E P A P M K O L I D Q Z X S E P D T B T J X C K E Á T O A M D D N V Q Y E I B F T L L U K S R A G U S E H T P J X D N U O Q X E S I B P P S E L D N A C T I L R B N E L S A E V F K D D I Z E I E L Z N U V F C C U W I L C A C I V W L Y G G N D R Z I B M F N S K W U C A B G I Z D D Y N A K M R G R E T A E L H T L A Y A B T C L C I R M A G E V W L T Z D C W T W U R A N X V U A U U P N P E C I F C H O E Z M Y Q A M L S P Z W L R C N R V N I A T J X P L S M R Y L K D S E V I F S U S H Z I W E V M O D C T X V G Z L W M K A A O P K E B A I P A T O I E X U J I A P R L B H W P I P L C X A E G R I R V E M H S K D A C L T X K Q S K E Y J U P N L G L T Y U B R P V W M E W S Q Q C K M P X Z A R F Y R F H W Y P M Q S J Y J J Q F Q K Z V C L U R V T S B S H V O U

This search includes 85 words and definitions from the vocabulary list. DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS VOCABULARY SEARCH LIST

N A M E : D A T E : V O C A B U L A R Y S E A R C H , S P A N I S H A N D E N G L I S H

A N S W E R K E Y

ALL SAINTS EL PANDELOS MUERTOS LOS GOLLETTES ALTAR OF THE OFFERING EL PAPEL PICADO LOS MARIACHIS BREADOFTHEDEAD FLAGS LOS SERAPES BUTTERFLY FLOWER OF THE DEAD MEXICAN BLANKETS CANDIES FLOWERS FOR THE DECEASED MEXICAN MARIGOLD CANDLESTICK GRAVE MEXICAN MUSICIANS CEMETERY GUITAR OFFERING PREPARED CEREMONY HUMOROUS DANCE OFFERINGS CHILDREN ILLUMINATION PAPEL MACHÉ COFFIN INCENSE PAPER CUT-OUT CROSS LA CALACA PAPER MACHÉ FIGURE CUT PAPER LA CALAVERA PINK SUGAR DANCE OF THE OLD PEOPLE LA CALAVERADE AZÚCAR REPRESENT DEATH DAY OF THE DEAD LA CRUZ SKELETA LFIGURES DECORATIVE LA DANZADE LOS VIEJITOS SKELETON DOUGHNUT SHAPED BREADS LA GUITARRA THE ARCH EL ALTAR DE LA OFRENDA LA ILUMINACIÓN THE MASK EL ALTAR DE MUERTOS LA MARIPOSA THE MASKS EL ANGÉLITO LA MÁSCARA THE SKULL EL ARCO LAS CALACAS THE SONGS AND POEMS EL ATAÚD LAS CALAVERA THE SUGAR SKULL EL ATOLE LITERARIA WEALTHY SKELETON COSTUME EL CANDELERO LA SCARETAS WEAR MASKS EL CEMENTERIO LA SCATRINAS EL CEMPASÚCHIL LAS FLORES EL COPAL LAS OFRENDAS EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS LA TUMBA EL ESQUELETO LIT CANDLES EL FLORDE MUERTOS LITTLE ANGELS EL MOLE LOS DULCES

These are the 85 words and definitions from the attached "helpful vocabulary" list that can be found in the vocabulary word search with search items in both Spanish and English.

This activity is appropriate for grade 3 through 12 DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CREATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT

N A M E : D A T E : C A L A V E R A S L I T E R A R I A A S S I G N M E N T

Calaveras literarias are a form of poetry that has become quite popular in Mexico during Día de los Muertos. These poems range from being teasing, joking, fun, satirical or critical as the writer highlights a particular quality or trait of the deceased subject of the poem. Calaveras literarias can also be a satirical imaginary eulogy for someone who is not deceased such as a politician, public personality or a close friend with a good sense of humor. These satirical poems poke fun at people in a way that suggests they’re dead, even though they’re alive, often highlighting the person's shortcomings in a humorous way. Historically this was a way for people to make fun of rich and powerful individuals in the community, in a safe, accepted way and to remind people that everyone is mortal no matter who they are or what they do. The tradition of Calaveras literarias is over 500 years old and have been found all over Europe and Latin America. Nowadays in Mexico ordinary people also write Calaveras for each other and share them on Day of the Dead. The structure of the calaveritas literarias typically consists of stanzas of four lines in which the second line rhymes with the last, or stanzas of five in which the third line rhymes with the last. The length of the poem varies, but is often short. How to write Calaveras literarias: Pick someone or something to eulogize. Write about anything, politicians or famous persons, your best friend or something from pop culture. Write in short rhyming verses and have fun. Use examples from famous Calaveras literarias for inspiration. ______DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS POETRY AND COMEDY

N A M E : D A T E : C A L A V E R A S L I T E R A R I A S

One of the most famous creator of Calaveras literarias is Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852 - 1913), an engraver from Aguascalientes who made political statements with his depictions of the Mexican upper class as well-dressed skeletons accompanied by a calaverita literaria. Posada's Calaveras Literarias were famous for giving voice to social issues.

Examples of Calaveras literarias:

Day of the dead by Davina Martínez En este mes singular, En que todo es fiesta y danza, Recordamos con amor Tradiciones y alabanzas. (In this special month, In which all is party and play, We remember with love Traditions and pray.) LA CALAVERA GARBANCERA Death and Taxes by “Las que hoy son empolvadas garbanceras Anonymous pararán en deformes calaveras”. Deceased or departed, Those who are all powdered Garbanceras, perished or expired, their days will end in contorted skeletons. none of these matter when the tax man inquired. “Hay hermosas garbanceras, Extinct, in the grave, de corsé y alto tacón; breathless, or still, pero han de ser calaveras, No body is needed calaveras del montón. to serve you your bill. ”There are beautiful garbanceras, wearing corset and high heels, Sports are Dead by but they are to be skeletons, Anonymous skeletons of the crowd. The stadium is packed (Garbanceras referred to frivolous working the skeletons are winning. women who dressed in high fashion and A new challenge arisen, scorned their culture) calaca are swimming. Football or baskets they win La Calavera Garbancera by José every sport, Guadalupe Posada - Sheet metal etchings I lost my last game to a man performed in 1912 and printed at Vanegas with no foot, press works in 1913. They never get tired, they beat all the best, Perhaps it's because they are always at rest? DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS TISSUE FLAG DECORATION MAKING

N A M E : D A T E : P A P E L P I C A D O

Papel Picado is a traditional Mexican craft that features colorful paper sheets with intricate cut-out details. It was made by stacking many sheets of paper and using chisels to cut the designs One of the most recognizable types of papel Picados are those hung during the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Papel Picados used in Dia de Muertos are often cut with patterns of skulls and strung around alters (ofrendas).Ofrendas highlight the four elements of the earth: fire, water, Earth, and air, of which papel picados represent air.

You can make Papel Picado using a few simple PAPEL PICADO EXAMPLE DESIGN tools and supplies by layering sheets of tissue paper and using scissors to trim out a delicate design. You will need: Tissue paper in bright colors A spool of string or thin ribbon Scissors Tape Optional: paper punch stamps, chisel set, paper cutting blade and board

1.Fold a few sheets of crepe paper in half. 2.Draw a template design on top sheet. 3.Neatly trim out the design with scissors, a blade, paper stamp or a paper chisel. 4.Delicately unfold the flags 5.Tape your string or streamer along the top edge of each flag in a rows own the line. 6.Hang them up.

1 FOLD 2. DESIGN 3. CUT 4. TAPE AND HANG DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS PAPEL PICADO EXAMPLE DESIGN

N A M E : D A T E : P A P E L P I C A D O T E M P L A T E

This design can be traced through a single folded sheet of tissue paper, or you can make your own design with a dark marker. e g d e d e d l o F DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS BREAD SCULPTING

N A M E : D A T E : P A N D E M E U R T O

Pan de muerto, bread of the dead, also called pan de los muertos in Mexico, is a type of pan dulce, sugar bread, traditionally baked in Mexico during the weeks leading up to the Día de Muertos. It is a sweetened soft bread shaped like a bun, often decorated with bone-shaped pieces on top. Pan de muerto is eaten on Día de Muertos, at the gravesite or festival of the dead. As part of the celebration, loved ones eat pan de muerto as well as the relative's favorite foods and leave a serving at a decorated memorial called an ofrenda.

You can purchase pan de meurto at many Latin PAN DE MUERTO grocery stores in October and November or if you are skilled in the kitchen you can bake it at home. There are many recipes for pan de meurto. Some require many hours of kitchen skills mixing, rising and baking the bread to perfection, but you can practice your bread shaping skills using this super simple recipe that is great for bakers of all skill levels and ages. *This is not a traditional recipe, but is great for learning to shape bread in the traditional style. You can also use play-doh to practice in a classroom setting.

Pan De Meurto Bread shapes

You will need: 1 can of refrigerated dinner rolls 1/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar A kitchen with oven and baking sheet or pan

Preheat oven to 350 °F On a sugar sprinkled cutting board unroll dough. Set aside 2 crescent sections to use to decorate the top of the bread with bone shapes. With your hands, shape the dough sections into small balls. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Whisk together the orange juice and milk and brush or drizzle over top of the dough. With the dough you set aside use your hands to shape 2 or 3 long slender bone like shape to lay over the top of your dough ball. The "bones" should be placed over the bread dough in a crisscross shape with skinny middles and fat round ends. Brush the strands and ball with the orange/milk mixture. Sprinkle entire bread with remaining sugar Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, and enjoy. DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS ALEBRIJES FOLK ART

N A M E : D A T E : A L E B R I J E S

Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical mythical creatures. Influences in design and style can be drawn between alebrijes and various supernatural creatures from Mexico's indigenous and European past but the name was coined by Pedro Linares in 1930. All across Mexico, fantastical creatures can be found dotting the streets, covered in bright colors, giant wings, bulging eyes and viper tongues. These alebrijes, made of wood, Copal, papier-mâché and clay are not specific to Day of the Dead but Mexican folk art is an essential part of the holiday.

Make a Mexican folk art style Alebrijes: ALEBRIJES Alebrijes animals can be made from any kind of material. They can also be based on a mythical animal or an animal with the traits of many different characteristics from a variety of animals both real and fantastic. The essential style of the Alebrijes is bright colors, detailed patterns, and huge eyes. Decorating your Alebrijes can include many different patterns of bright lines, polka-dots, patterns, or even symbolic designs. Use this silhouette of a Xolo, (Mexican hairless dog) or an animal of your choice to design patterns for your Alebrijes and then sculpt or create an Alebrijes of your own.

JJ DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS SUGAR SKULLS RECIPE

N A M E : D A T E : C O L O R F U L C A L A V E R A R E C I P E

Sometimes referred to as a “sugar skull”, the calavera, or skull in Spanish, is a powerful symbol from Mexico and Latin America to celebrate the Day of the Dead. The “calavera” is usually an ornately decorated representation of a skull, often featuring flowers, animals, and other decorations. During the holiday, this imagery is seen everywhere, from Ofrendas, to paper crafts, and even to cartoons on newspapers. Calavera are decorative or edible skulls made usually by hand from either sugar or clay.

Make a traditional calavera sugar sculpture: CALAVERA Ingredients: 1/4 cup meringue powder 6 cups granulated sugar 1/3 cup water Skull or animal Mold (optional) 1.Mix everything until the sugar holds together and can be sculpted. 2.Shape your mixture or press it into a mold. 3.Allow your sugar mold or sculpture to dry for at least 6 hours. 4.Turn over your sculpture gently to allow bottom to dry or place on a rack. 5.Allow sculpture to dry completely for one day. 6.Pipe royal icing onto the sculpture creating colorful embellishments of flowers, designs and outlines in bright colors. 7.Display your sugar skull or art on the ofrenda or altar. DAY OF THE DEAD - DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS COLORFUL CALAVERA

N A M E : D A T E : C O L O R I N G C A L A V E R A

The calavera, or skull in Spanish, is a powerful symbol from Mexico and Latin America to celebrate the Day of the Dead. The calavera is usually an ornately decorated and brings bright color to altars and graves. Color this calavera using the colors and themes of Día de Muertos.