A Mexican Holiday
Participate in some of the traditions associated with Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead)

Introduction
In the Maya & Miguel episode “La Calavera,” Maya wants to add some oomph to her presentation about Mexico for school, so she consults her Abuela Elena, who allows her to borrow a prized possession: a calavera, or skull made of sugar that is used in the yearly Day of the Dead celebration. Maya promises not to let anything happen to this special calavera. Her presentation goes well, but Maya loses the calavera! Maya is determined not to let her abuela down, and goes to great lengths to have the calavera re-made, but eventually discovers that telling the truth is what’s most important.

In this activity, your child will listen to you read about the traditions surrounding the Mexican celebration, or ritual, known as Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). Then a home altar will be made to experience this unique celebration.

Materials: Home altar supplies

• small table
• small boxes or containers
• tablecloth
• flower petals, garland
• glass of water
• candles
• incense
• pictures of loved one
• favorite food and drink of loved one

Directions: Make you very own home altar!

• Share this brief explanation with your child:
  Just as Halloween is ending in the United States, one of Mexico’s most important holidays, Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is just beginning. On November 1st and 2nd, families pay tribute to departed loved ones with a festival of flowers, music and traditional foods. During this time, it is believed that spirits return home to visit with family and friends. Preparations begin weeks before the ritual as families create altars in their homes, prepare favorite cultural foods and decorate grave sites with flowers, sugar skulls and candles.
• Help your child create a home altar using these ideas:
  • place a small table against a wall
  • use empty boxes or containers to create different levels (representing the stages that spirits go through on their way to paradise).
  • cover boxes with tablecloth
  • Spread flower petals/garland, along with a glass of water, candles and incense. (Each element represents earth, water, fire and air.)
  • Display pictures of departed loved ones, along with foods/drinks they enjoyed while alive. This offering is how the spirits are welcomed to the party.

Talk About It: Ask your child to tell what he/she knows about Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). Ask your child: What country did this ritual begin in and how do families celebrate Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead)?

Take It Further: Recite each traditional Day of the Dead saying in Spanish and English, or your own native language.

Hay más tiempo que vida: There is more time than life.
Quien con la esperanza vive, alegre muere: He who lives with hope dies happy.

Ask your child: What does the first saying mean? (Time goes on forever, but every living thing will eventually die.) What does the second saying mean? (Persons that live with hope may die happier than those that live without hope.)

With a Group: Read: El Dia de Los Muertos: (Day of the Dead) by Mary Dodson Wade (Ages 6-7). Then plan and create a group altar honoring departed loved ones (including community members). Help children practice how to share what they know about Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) with guests in both English and Spanish. This activity may help others that don’t know about this celebration better understand the history and uniqueness of this popular Mexican ritual. Take pictures and keep a scrapbook to enjoy later.