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El Dia de Los Muertos The Day of the Dead Slide 2 Slide 3 Historia More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. Slide 4 Historia The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth and honor the dead. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. The Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan. In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual. But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die. Slide 5 What was the Spaniards 1 st impression of this native ritual? A. It was really cool B. It mocked death C. It was just like Halloween [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 6 How long had indigenous people in Mexico and Central American been practicing this ritual? A. About 40 years B. A little over 1 million years C. Over 3,000 years [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 7 What did Aztecs and Meso- Americans do with skulls? A. Kept them as trophies B. Used the to decorate their houses C. Uses them as bowls [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 8 What did this skulls symbolize to the Aztecs & Meso-Americans? A. Death, rebirth, and honor of the dead B. Victory! C. They were just really neat to keep & not symbolic [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 9 What were the Spaniards view of death? A. The beginning of life B. The end of life C. Just something that happens [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 10 What were the natives view of death? A. The end of life B. Something to be feared C. A continuation of life [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 11 Historia To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today. Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and Central America and falls in between Oct. 31 st and Nov. 2 nd. Traditionally, most regions in Mexico with honor deceased children and infants on November 1 st and deceased adults on November 2 nd. November 1 st is traditionally called Da de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Da de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels). Slide 12 What Catholic Holiday coincides with Day of the Dead? A. Christmas B. Three Kings Day C. All Saints Day [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 13 When is Day of the Dead celebrated? A. October 1 st -November 1 st B. October 31 st - November 31 st C. October 31 st -November 2 nd [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 14 What group is traditionally celebrated on November 1 st (El Da de los Angelitos)? A. Deceased children and infants B. Deceased adults C. Those who died in violent crimes [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 15 It's celebrated different depending on where you go. In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones. Slide 16 In their honor In the United States and in Mexico's larger cities, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar. They also prepare and eat the deceaseds favorite food and play music in their honor. Slide 17 Traditional alter decorations Candles representing hope and faith that burn through the night so there is no darkness. Traditionally there is a candle for each deceased member of the family and one extra so no one is left out. A traditional incense called Copal which is used to cleanse the area and ward off evil. The scent is used to attract the sprits home. Water to purify and quench the thirst of the spirits after a long journey. Salt to season their food. Bread for survival. A washbasin with soap, towels, and other items so the spirit can clean up when the arrive home. Calavaras or decorative skeletons to represent the loved one. The deceased favorite items to make them feel more at home. The traditional flower (marigold) which dates back to the time of the Aztecs and is believed to lure the spirits back with its scent. Slide 18 Calaveras Slide 19 Families tiding and decorating graves in a cemetery in Mexico Slide 20 Where do families traditionally go on Day of the Dead? A. Downtown B. The graveyard C. The place where their loved one died. [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 21 What happened at the gravesites? A. The families decorate the graves B. The family members have a picnic C. Family members bring the deceased favorite things and place them on the grave D. All of the above [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 22 What do people do in their homes for Day of the Dead? A. Nothing B. Make an alter for the deceased C. Recreate the cemetery [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 23 How many candles are traditionally put on the alter? A. 1 very large candle B. 1 candle for each deceased member + 1 extra C. 3 candles [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 24 What are Calaveras ? A. Gravesites B. Incense C. Decorative skulls [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 25 What flower is traditionally used as decorations? A. Marigolds B. Lilies C. Black roses [Default] [MC Any] [MC All] Slide 26 Exit Slip 1. What are 5 things you learned about El da de los Muertos? 2. What are a couple things you found most interesting about El da de los Muertos? 3. Make a Venn diagram that compares and contrasts Halloween with El da de los Muertos. Have at least 5 for each circle.