Dia de Los Muertos
Celebrating a Mexican Holiday
A Brief History on the Tradition
Dating back to:
Mesoamerica
(Pre-Hispanic Mexico) Aztec
Origins: A ritual presided by
the Mictecacihuatl “Lady of
the Dead” and dedicated to
children and the dead.
But…
*Post-Conquest was
changed by the Spaniards
as a Christian holiday know
as All Hallows Eve “Dia de
Todos los Santos”
What is Dia de Los
Muertos
Present Day:
Dia de Los Muertos is
a Mexican Holiday
which remembers their
dead, and the continuity
of life.
Important Things You Need To
Know About Dia de Los Muertos
 This holiday is
celebrated
differently
depending on the
region and degree
of urbanization.
 It is not a morbid
occasion but
rather a festival
of life.
Holidays Activities
1) Welcoming the dead back to their
homes
2) Visiting the graves of past loved ones.
Here family members will gather and
help decorate the gravesite.
Creating An Altar




Decorating with marigold and chrysanthemums flowers
Adorning with religious amulets
Offering of food (perhaps a favorite dish)
Cigarettes and Alcoholic Beverages
 Bread and Sugar Figurines
 Photographs
 Calaveras (Skeleton Figurines)
 But most important…
 A thing that the dead prized and enjoyed while they
lived.
Note: Through this altar family members feel that the souls of the dead return
GRAVESITES
A
L
T
A
R
S
F
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O
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Classroom Crafts
Marigold Flowers
A. Materials Needed
1. Pencil or Pen
2. Ruler
3. Yellow or MultiColored Tissue
paper
4.Pipe Cleaners
5.Tape
Instructions
1. Starting at one end of an unfolded package of tissue paper, measure off
strips 2 1/2 inches wide.
2. Fold each strip into 4 equal parts
3. With paper folded, make 1/2 inch cuts starting at the top edge. Cuts
should be 1/4 inches apart.
4. Trim each petal by cutting an inverted diagonal V shape.
5. Hold straight edge of a strip in 1 hand while gathering the petals with the
other hand, wrapping around the pipe cleaner.
6. Cut a strip of tape to place around the bottom of the petal to attach to the
pipe cleaner. Continue to wrap downward around the length of the pipe
cleaner.
7. Fluff out the petals bye bending them outward from the center.
Sugar Skulls
Supplies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1 set of plastic skull molds
Mixing bowl and spoon
2 cups of granulated sugar
2 teaspoons of meringue
powder
2 teaspoons of water
1 piece of cardboard,
approx. 5” by 5”
INSTRUCTIONS
 1.Mix the dry ingredients together in the bowl.
 2.Sprinkle the water in and continue to mix until the sugar is
completely moistened and becomes the consistency of moist
sand.
 3.Scoop some of the mixture into the mold and pack it evenly and
firmly.
 4.Place the piece of cardboard on top of the mold and quickly flip
it over so the sugar skull pops out.
 5.Very carefully slide it onto a flat surface.
Continue making the rest of the skulls. Let them dry for 24 hours in a dry place.
ICING INGREDIENTS
Icing:
 2/3 cup of water
 1/2 cup meringue powder
 2 pounds of powdered sugar
 Electric mixer
 Concentrated food coloring (the kind professional cake bakers
use)
 1 pastry or Ziploc bag
 Plastic cups
 Spoon
ICING INSTRUCTIONS
 1.Blend the ingredients with an electric mixer until the peaks form in the icing.
 2.If using assorted colors, scoop the white icing into separate bowls and add a
dab of different colored food coloring in each one.
 3.Mix again.
 4.Scoop the icing into the pastry or Ziploc bag (snip the corner for the latter).
 5.Continue until you have several bags of different colors.
 6.Keep sealed and refrigerated until use.
Makes four small skulls
Teacher Lesson
Plans & Activities
Web Sites:
 http://pbskids.org/mayaandmiguel/english/parentsteachers/lessonpl
ans/index.html
 http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnescelebrations/Day.html
 http://www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_id=84&year=200
4&extended=true