Morford 1
Kara Morford
Miss O’Dell
English block W1
9 January 2013
Outline
I.
Introduction –Hook/attention-getter- It is the end of October and the streets are
decorated with beautiful colors and skeletons. The celebrations for Dia de los Muertos are
approaching and families prepare early.
A.
Transition/connection (This should take two or more sentences.)- The celebrations
are going to be wonderful but in a way sad. Most people can’t wait for the festivities to
begin. There are many special and important celebrations around the world and this is
one of them.
B.
Thesis (topic + verb + what? for your entire paper)- Dia de los Muertos is one of
the most important and widely celebrated holidays in the Hispanic culture.
II.
Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)- Dia de los
Muertos is for many things for some families and for others it is just for visiting family
spirits.
A.
Support 1(preferably a quotation)- Most of the people who celebrate this day of
the dead celebrate merely to contact their deceased family and ancestors.
B.
Connection, comment, or explanation- They do this to let them know that they are
not forgotten and that their family on Earth still loves them.
C.
Support 2 (preferably a quotation)- This is a way of keeping a connection between
them, though they may be physically separated by death.
D.
This celebration is not just one day, it is two (Bean). Many people may wonder
why the families who celebrate this holiday are not mourning the deaths of their family. It
Morford 2
may be hard for us to understand but for the Hispanics, it is quite simple. They are not
afraid of death or dying, they believe that they live on in another world, a spirit world.
E.
Connection, comment, or explanation- So, they do not mourn the deaths for they
believe that they will be with them one day again. This is much different from our
traditions, so we may find it odd (Miller).
F.
Support 3 (preferably a quotation) This ritual started many years ago, with the
ancient civilizations such as the Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs. Unlike the conquistadors
from Spain, who viewed death as the end of all life, the natives believed that it was a
continuation of life. So, in their different views, the Spaniards saw the ritual as barbaric.
While the conquistadors tried to convert the natives to Catholic, they tried to kill the
ritual. But the attempts failed, the ritual would not die.
G.
Connection, comment, or explanation- The only result was that the celebration
had been shortened. Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar,
approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month.
Festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The goddess, known as
"Lady of the Dead," was believed to have died at birth.
H.
Concluding Sentence/Transition- But, not every spirit is celebrated on the same
night (To Be Continued).
III.
Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)- On November
1st, the families wait for muertitos chicos y chicas or the los angelitos.
A.
Support 1(preferably a quotation)- This names translated to English are the “dead
little boys and girls” and “little angels.” On this day, they only celebrate the coming of
the souls of the children. They celebrate them in the same way but leave different things.
Morford 3
B.
Connection, comment, or explanation- The families leave them things such as toy
cakes, hot chocolate, and honey to sweeten coming to Earth (Oster). The tradition is to
celebrate the adults on the following night of the second.
C.
Support 2 (preferably a quotation)- The second is referred to as Dia de los Muerto
or Dia de los Difuntos, while the first is referred to as many things. Some of these things
are Dia de los Inocentes-Day of the Innocents, and Dia de los Angelitos-Day of the Little
Angels (Taralinda Muses).
D.
Connection, comment, or explanation- Instead of thinking that these days are for
celebrating the spirits of the deceased, many non-Hispanic people think this is Halloween
for the Hispanics.
E.
Concluding Sentence/Transition- But, many preparations and traditions are held
on and for these two days.
IV.
Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)- Many
preparations are made starting weeks before the celebrations.
A.
Support 1(preferably a quotation)- Most families have lots of people come over to
their house, so they have to save up money to be able to pay for all the ingredients and
ofrendas.
B.
Connection, comment, or explanation- One of the most important things of Dia de
Los Muertos is preparing alters for the deceased. They are usually made inside the homes
in which they used to live or that the family lives in.
C.
Support 2 (preferably a quotation) These alters are made to honor spirits. When
the person was important to the community, there may be and alter placed in the school,
government offices, and other community spaces -
Morford 4
D.
Support 3 (preferably a quotation) They are filled with ofrendas, which were often
things that the deceased loved one enjoyed. The traditions are very different throughout
Mexico, the United States and Central America, where it is celebrated.
E.
Connection, comment, or explanation Some of the ofrendas could be sugar skulls,
fresh flowers or petals, photos, the deceased ones favorite snacks and drinks, incense, pan
de muerto, and statues of saints. Then, the night before the spirits come out, the whole
town goes to the cemetery to clean and decorate the gravesites. The families will put
Mexican marigolds, or chempasúchils, into beautiful arches. The arches and graves will
be adorned with pictures and gifts. These gifts are meant to attract the dead, helping them
back to their families (Taralinda Muses).
F.
Concluding Sentence/Transition The traditions can vary from place to place but
also remain quite similar (Bean).
I.
Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)
A.
Support 1(preferably a quotation)- There are many traditions that this holiday
generally follows.
B.
Connection, comment, or explanation- One of the most common traditions is
making tamales.
C.
Support 2 (preferably a quotation)- Tamales are a delicious Mexican dish of
seasoned meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and steamed or baked in corn husks.
Sometimes, salsa or other things will be put inside to make them very flavorful.
D.
Connection, comment, or explanation But, the food is not the only important
tradition. Another important thing is the way they dress.
E.
Support 3 (preferably a quotation) If they are not in calavara, or skeleton,
costumes they are dressed nicely in bright colors to make the spirits feel welcome,
another thing the families will do to make the spirits feel welcome is by sharing funny or
Morford 5
happy stories about the deceased. In these stories, they poke fun at the deceased hobbies
or habits.
F.
Connection, comment, or explanation They do this because they know that the
loved ones that have died do not want the families to think of their death as sad. They
want the families to celebrate as if they were still alive (Miller). There are some other
traditions that are more serious. For example one of these traditions takes place only on
the year of the death of a child. This takes place on November 1st, in the child’s home.
The godparents set a table with sweets, fruit, pan de muerto, a cross, a rosary which is
used to ask Virgin Mary to pray for them, and candles. This is for celebrating the child’s
life in respect and appreciation of the parents and their loss (Taralinda Muses).
G.
Concluding Sentence/Transition Even though some of these traditions sound
serious, there is a lot of colors and arts involved.
II.
Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)- Dia de los
Muertos has a ton of art and colors in the celebrations.
A.
Support 1(preferably a quotation)- Many different arts are visible in these
celebrations.
B.
Connection, comment, or explanation- The families will often make paper-mache,
clay objects, wood carving, papel picado, sugar skulls and paintings that represent the
dead. These objects are very colorful and welcoming so that the spirits feel welcome.
C.
Support 2 (preferably a quotation) A painting by Jose Guadalupe Posada is one of
the paintings that most people think of when they think of Day of the Dead.
D.
Connection, comment, or explanation- This painting is called “La Calavera de la
Catrina” which means “The skeleton of the Lady Dandy in English. In this painting, the
Morford 6
lady is very well dressed in an upper class manor, but she has the face of a skeleton.
Stores often make figures that are related to this painting.
E.
Concluding Sentence/Transition- All the little things in Dia de los Muertos makes
a beautiful celebration of life, which will be carried on for many generations to come
(Miller).
Conclusion
A.
Summarize main points- It is no doubt that Day of the Dead is very important to
Hispanic culture and takes lots of preparation and time. The traditions, food and art are
all ways that they welcome the spirits of the young and old.
B.
Restate thesis- But they know that this celebration is one of the most important in
their culture so they love celebrating it.
C.
Revisit introduction or tie all ideas together- A lot of time and hard work is put
into the celebrations because the families love the family members that have passed. But
they know that this celebration is one of the most important in their culture so they love
celebrating it. So they do not want them to feel like they are forgotten.
D.
Concluding Sentence/Transition- Though they are missed, they know that one day
they will join them in the spirit world and that the spirits will visit again next year.
Morford 7
Kara Morford
Miss O’Dell
English block W1
19 December 2012
Dia de los Muertos
It is the end of October and the streets are decorated with beautiful colors and
skeletons. The celebrations for Dia de los Muertos are approaching and families prepare
early. The celebrations are going to be wonderful but in a way sad. Most people can’t
wait for the festivities to begin. There are many special and important celebrations around
the world and this is one of them. Dia de los Muertos is one of the most important and
widely celebrated holidays in the Hispanic culture.
Dia de los Muertos is for many things for some families and for others it is just
for the visiting family spirits. Most of the people who celebrate this day of the dead
celebrate merely to contact their deceased family and ancestors. They do this to let them
know that they are not forgotten and that their family on Earth still loves them. This is a
way of keeping a connection between them, though they may be physically separated by
death.
This celebration is not just one day, it is two (Bean). Many people may wonder why the
families who celebrate this holiday are not mourning the deaths of their family. It may be
hard for us to understand but for the Hispanics, it is quite simple. They are not afraid of
death or dying, they believe that they live on in another world, a spirit world. So, they do
not mourn the deaths for they believe that they will be with them one day again. This is
much different from our traditions, so we may find it odd (Miller). This ritual started
many years ago, with the ancient civilizations such as the Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs.
Unlike the conquistadors from Spain, who viewed death as the end of all life, the natives
Morford 8
believed that it was a continuation of life. So, in their different views, the Spaniards saw
the ritual as barbaric. While the conquistadors tried to convert the natives to Catholic,
they tried to kill the ritual. But the attempts failed, the ritual would not die. The only
result was that the celebration had been shortened. Previously it fell on the ninth month of
the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for
the entire month. Festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The
goddess, known as "Lady of the Dead," was believed to have died at birth. But, not every
spirit is celebrated on the same night (To Be Continued).
On November 1st, the families wait for muertitos chicos y chicas or the los
angelitos. This names translated to English are the “dead little boys and girls” and “little
angels.” On this day, they only celebrate the coming of the souls of the children. They
celebrate them in the same way but leave different things. The families leave them things
such as toy cakes, hot chocolate, and honey to sweeten coming to Earth (Oster). The
tradition is to celebrate the adults on the following night of the second. The second is
referred to as Dia de los Muerto or Dia de los Difuntos, while the first is referred to as
many things. Some of these things are Dia de los Inocentes-Day of the Innocents, and Dia
de los Angelitos-Day of the Little Angels (Taralinda Muses). Instead of thinking that
these days are for celebrating the spirits of the deceased, many non-Hispanic people think
this is Halloween for the Hispanics. But, many preparations and traditions are held on and
for these two days.
Many preparations are made starting weeks before the celebrations. Most families
have lots of people come over to their house, so they have to save up money to be able to
pay for all the ingredients and ofrendas. One of the most important things of Dia de Los
Muertos is preparing alters for the deceased. They are usually made inside the homes in
which they used to live or that the family lives in. These alters are made to honor spirits.
Morford 9
When the person was important to the community, there may be and alter placed in the
school, government offices, and other community spaces. The alters are set up two days
before the celebration. They are filled with ofrendas, which were often things that the
deceased loved one enjoyed. Some of the ofrendas could be sugar skulls, fresh flowers or
petals, photos, the deceased ones favorite snacks and drinks, incense, pan de muerto, and
statues of saints. Then, the night before the spirits come out, the whole town goes to the
cemetery to clean and decorate the gravesites. The families will put Mexican marigolds,
or chempasúchils, into beautiful arches. The arches and graves will be adorned with
pictures and gifts. These gifts are meant to attract the dead, helping them back to their
families (Taralinda Muses). The traditions are very different throughout Mexico, the
United States and Central America, where it is celebrated. The traditions can vary from
place to place but also remain quite similar (Bean).
There are many traditions that this holiday generally follows. One of the most
common traditions is making tamales. Tamales are a delicious Mexican dish of seasoned
meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and steamed or baked in corn husks. Sometimes, salsa
or other things will be put inside to make them very flavorful. But, the food is not the
only important tradition. Another important thing is the way they dress. If they are not in
calavara, or skeleton, costumes they are dressed nicely in bright colors to make the spirits
feel welcome, another thing the families will do to make the spirits feel welcome is by
sharing funny or happy stories about the deceased. In these stories, they poke fun at the
deceased hobbies or habits. They do this because they know that the loved ones that have
died do not want the families to think of their death as sad. They want the families to
celebrate as if they were still alive (Miller). There are some other traditions that are more
serious. For example one of these traditions takes place only on the year of the death of a
child. This takes place on November 1st, in the child’s home. The godparents set a table
Morford 10
with sweets, fruit, pan de muerto, a cross, a rosary which is used to ask Virgin Mary to
pray for them, and candles. This is for celebrating the child’s life in respect and
appreciation of the parents and their loss (Taralinda Muses). Even though some of these
traditions sound serious, there is a lot of colors and arts involved.
Dia de los Muertos has a ton of art and colors in the celebrations. Many different
arts are visible in these celebrations. The families will often make paper-mache, clay
objects, wood carving, papel picado, sugar skulls and paintings that represent the dead.
These objects are very colorful and welcoming so that the spirits feel welcome. A
painting by Jose Guadalupe Posada is one of the paintings that most people think of when
they think of Day of the Dead. This painting is called “La Calavera de la Catrina” which
means “The skeleton of the Lady Dandy in English. In this painting, the lady is very well
dressed in an upper class manor, but she has the face of a skeleton. Stores often make
figures that are related to this painting. All the little things in Dia de los Muertos makes a
beautiful celebration of life, which will be carried on for many generations to come
(Miller).
It is no doubt that Day of the Dead is very important to Hispanic culture and takes
lots of preparation and time. The traditions, food and art are all ways that they welcome
the spirits of the young and old. A lot of time and hard work is put into the celebrations
because the families love the family members that have passed. But they know that this
celebration is one of the most important in their culture so they love celebrating it. So
they do not want them to feel like they are forgotten. Though they are missed, they know
that one day they will join them in the spirit world and that the spirits will visit again next
year.
Morford 11
Works Cited
Bean, Kathy and Markello, Carrie. “Dia de los Muertos: a joyful Mexican celebration.”
School Arts Oct. 2005: 41+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.
Miller, Carlos. "Day of the Dead History." Azcentral.com. AZcentral, 2009. Web. 05
Dec. 2012. <http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html>
Oster, Patrick. "Day of the Dead." The Mexicans: A Personal Portrait of a People. New
York: W. Morrow, 1989. 220+. Print.
Reilly, Mary-Jo, and Leslie Jermyn. Mexico. New York: Benchmark, 2002. 108. Print.
"Taralinda Muses." Taralinda Muses. Wordpress, Autumn 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.
<http://taralinda.wordpress.com/tag/dia-de-los-muertos/>\
To Be Continued..: Day of the Dead - Customs and Traditions."
<Http://annettelaselle.com.> Annette Laselle, 31 Oct. 2008. Web. 09 Jan. 2013.