Day of the Dead
By: Hannah, Luma and Aisha
When??
• Mexico celebrates a yearly tradition called
Day of the Dead during the last days of
October and the first days of November.
Due to the duration of this festivity and the
way people get involved. It is a ritual
known today as Día de los Muertos, or
Day of the Dead.
Why?
• Indigenous people believed that souls did
not die and that they continued living in
Mictlan, a special place to rest. In this
place, the spirits rest until the day they
could return to their homes to visit their
relatives. Before the Spaniards arrived,
they celebrated the return of the souls
between the months of July and August.
About Catrinas
• For centuries the inhabitants of Mexico
have created fascinating folk art
expressions of the Day of the Dead:
magnificently decorated skulls and
catrinas, fabulous candelabra, trees of
life and attractive skeletons. Skilful
artists transform wood, clay, tin and
paper into wonderful Day of the Dead
sculptures many inspired by Jose
Guadalupe Posada.
Why & when are the Caretas are
worn?
• Day of the Dead art is alive with smiling skulls in
kaleidoscope colors, doused in a deluge of
decorative and detailed designs. It is a vibrant art
of colors and chaos. Look at the skull art on this
page. What do you see: evil skull drawings or
benelovent beings? Sweet or sinister smiles? The
answer may depend on how you interpret
death.Day of the Dead artwork is not meant to be
scary. Just the opposite - this artwork is meant to
celebrate the spirit and honor the memory of
those who have passed.
Bibliography
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http://www.ddfolkart.com/
http://www.dayofthedead.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
http://media.photobucket.com/image/day%20of%20the%20dead/
acootis/Day%20of%20the%20Dead/Day_of_the_Dead.jpg
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/deadhistory3.html#ixzz14VYFpMSu
http://www.thaneeya.com/pages/shop/prints/shop-prints-ab1.htm
http://www.art-is-fun.com/day-of-the-deadart.html#ixzz14VcgKThH
http://s5.thisnext.com/media/230x230/Frenzy-Art-Day-of-theDead-Art_5D5B189B.jpg
http://diadelosmuertos.us/images/63.jpg