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Preparations
Much time and energy are spent in preparing for El Día de los Muertos. Families construct and decorate altars in their homes to honor their loved ones. Offerings at the altar consist of favorite foods, toys and drinks. Also included are photographs, special bread, cempazuchitl flowers, candles, and other symbolic offerings. Decorations may include gifts, papel picado (cut tissue paper banners), copal incense, and pictures of saints. Tombs and gravestones in the cemeteries are cleaned and painted in preparation for the soul's return. The special bread of the Day of the Dead is Pan de los Muertos. It is a sweet bread with candied fruit and toys inside. It is baked in the shape of a calavera (skull). In the homes, family members honor their deceased with Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead), candies, and toys are made in the shapes of calavera (skulls and skeletons). Skeletons, a symbol of resurrection, are made out of paper-mache. Skeletons are seen in all types of everyday situations: musicians, dancers, brides and grooms, athletes, etc. The artesanía (folk art) of calaveras is seen everywhere in many different forms.
The traditional flower of El Día de los Muertos is the cempazuchitl (yellow marigold), which is used to decorate altars and the cemetery. Its strong smell helps the souls find their way home. The state of Michoacán, to the west of Mexico City, is well known for its observance of the Day of the Dead. The towns that surround Lake Pátzcuaro are visited each year for the celebration.
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[Lake
Tahoe Community College] [World
Languages Dept.] |
