"Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a day of celebration for the people of Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Central America, and more recently for Mexican Americans. Rather than grieve over the loss of a beloved family or friend, they choose to commemorate the lives of the dearly departed and welcome the return of their spirits. The history of Day of the Dead is embedded with Pre-Hispanic and Spanish customs. These customs shaped the common elements of traditional Mexican Dia de los Muertos."
- Water is served in a clay pitcher of glass to quench the spirits' thirst from their long journey and represents one of life's elements.
- Candles represent fire, another one of life's elements.
- Papel picado (tissue paper cut-outs) represent wind, the third of life's elements.
- Marigolds are symbolic of death for the Aztec culture in pre-Colombian Mexico.
- Food, usually pan de muerto (bread of the dead), represents the last of earth's elements: earth
- Calveras de azucar represent life's sweetness.
- Copal incense
- Photos
- Toys
- Other foods, such as mole, fruit, chocolate, atole, or favorite dishes of the deceased.
We are going to make a school-wide ofrenda that will be on display outside the front office. If your child would like to bring something to contribute it could be a picture or drawing of a deceased loved one (including pets), an item that their loved one enjoyed (for example playing cards, a picture of a guitar, etc.) or something they wrote about the person they are remembering and why. Please make sure to have their name on the item so that we can return it to you when we are finished. You can also email a picture of the photo or item to Lesley at lesley.page@bvsd.org and they will get printed out to be put on display.
¡Gracias!
How to make Pan de Muerto
Our school-wide ofrenda from 2021
5th graders worked with a partner to come up with facts they remember about Día de los Muertos.
