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El Da de los Muertos en Mxicoprovides a blend of serious and
seemingly irreverent traditions
for celebrating death. This is a good example of cultural
differences and how students need to be more
aware of others religious beliefs and practices. The combination
of Aztec and Christian, which has
become so much a part of Mexican society, will enable students
to discuss and compare them with
American Indian and Christian customs. It also mentions how
religions try to instill fear into the faithful
in order to keep them in line. (Look at the picture
ofMictlantecuhtli, lord of the dead and god of the
Underworld.) Both the Egyptians and the Aztecs made their gods
look so fearful in order to keep the
people in line, to do what the religion and government demanded
of them.
Finally, this exercise shows similarities between American
Halloween practices of dressing up as
skeletons and the way Mexicans wear skeleton costumes on their
special day. All of these activities allow
for a great deal of discussion on how Mexican customs are
similar yet so different from ours.
This packet includes several readings and activities in Spanish,
but the rest is in English.
Discussion exercises are in both languages.
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VOCABULARIO TIL
alfeiques candy (often chocolate) in the shape of coffins
calaveras sugar skulls for el Da de los Muertos; short, comical
writings about living people put innewspapers on this special
day
caricaturas cartoons of people, especially politicians and
celebrities, using exaggerated features
esqueletos skeletons, popular symbols for laughing at death
during the Day of the Death celebrations
incienso sweet smelling powder which when burned gives off
smoke; frequently used in
indigenous religious rites
maravillas marigolds, the Aztec flower of the dead, most popular
for the Day of the Dead
mazapn marzipan, a type of sweet treat made from sugar, egg
yolks, and almond paste
ofrendas altars set up in the home, schools, churches, or
workplace to honor cherished loved ones
on the Day of the Dead
pan de muertos special bread, often in the shape of a skull and
crossed bones, eaten on the Day of the
Dead
papel picado cut out tissue paper used as decorations for the
Day of the Dead
velas candles
cementerio cemetery
vspera vigil, the day before, keep watch; on Nov. 1st Mexicans
spend the day and night in the cemeteries
cleaning up the graves, putting out/planting flowers and waiting
for the dead to return to
earth for Nov. 2nd
Posada Jos Guadalupe Posada was a famous XIX century writer and
cartoonist who specialized in
cartoons and caricatures that protested Mexican politics, the
revolution, and social foibles
of the time
Oaxaca large city in S.E. Mexico that has special celebrations
for the Day of the Dead. Tourists from all
over come to join in the festivities
Mictln the Aztec paradise
Patzcuaro region in Mexico noted for its Day of the Dead
ceremonies and the fisherman who use
butterfly fishnets and fish for lost souls in the local lake
