El DíA DE LOS mUERTOS

EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

VOCABULARIO I

¿CUÁNDO? & ¿DÓNDE?

Day of the Dead is an interesting holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico during the chilly days of November 1 & 2. 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.

OFRENDASThe word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called altares or altars, but they are not for worshiping.

PAN DE MUERTOis a type of bread traditionally baked in Mexico during the weeks leading up to the Día de los Muertos. It is a sweetened soft bread shaped like a bun, often decorated with bone-like pieces.

CALACAA calaca (a colloquial Mexican Spanish name for skeleton) is a figure of a skull or skeleton (usually human) commonly used for decoration during the Mexican Day of the Dead festival, although they are made all year round.

CEMPAZUCHITLCempazuchitl o zenpasuchitl (del nahuatl Cempōhualxōchitl que significa "veinte flores“) Cempazuchitl is a yellow marigold, the symbol of death, also known as cempasuchil or zempasuchitl used in Day Of The Dead celebrations.

ALFENIQUESThe Alfeñique fair or feria del Alfeñique is an annual event that takes place in the city of Toluca, Mexico in which vendors sell traditional sugar skulls with names labeled on the forehead, as well as candy in a variety of shapes, in order to celebrate the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Chocolate and sugar skulls are used to decorate altars dedicated to the dead during the celebration. The fair starts in the middle of October and lasts up to the beginning of November.

CASCARONESCascarones or confetti eggs are festive, hollowed-out chicken eggs filled with confetti or small toys, originating in China. In Spanish, cáscara means eggshell. Cascarones are similar to the Easter eggs popular in many other countries.

PAPEL PICADO

Papel picado ("perforated paper") is a decorative craft made out of paper cut into elaborate designs. Although it is a Mexican folk art, papel picado is used as a holiday decoration in many countries. 

COPAL

Copal is the traditional incense made from the resin of the copal tree.

ANGELITOS

"Day of the Little Angels” is celebrated on November 1st for all children who had passed away.

CALAVERAS

JOSÉ GUADALUPE POSADA

Jose Guadalupe Posada: (1852–1913) was a Mexican cartoonist illustrator and artist whose work has influenced many Latin American artists and cartoonists because of its satirical acuteness and political engagement.