By Liz Moll and Austin Wager Mexican Holiday celebrated to honor deceased relatives Families...

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

(DAY OF THE DEAD)By Liz Moll and Austin Wager

WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE DEAD? Mexican Holiday celebrated to honor

deceased relatives

Families gather for parties to celebrate

It is a ritual and cultural characteristic

WHEN AND WHO DID IT BEGIN WITH? Native Mexicans

practiced this as a ritual

Practiced for over 3,000 years

Originally celebrated for an entire month

Now celebrated on November 1st and 2nd of each year

WHY IS IT CELEBRATED? Celebrated yearly to

honor those who have died

During the ritual, those believed that the dead came back to life

This day is celebrated to symbolize death and rebirth

HOW IS IT CELEBRATED? Grave sites are decorated based off of

the deceased’s interests Favorite foods are prepared for parties Faces are painted and costumes are

worn Skulls are used as trophies

“It is celebrated different depending on where you go” - Christina Gonzalez

WHERE IS THE DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATED? Mexico

Parts of Central America

And some parts of the United States (AZ, NM)

WHAT TRADITION IN THE UNITED STATES CAN WE COMPARE THIS HOLIDAY TO? Halloween!

Although Day of the Dead has remained much more traditional, both center its main focus around death

Day of the Dead Video

SOURCES: http://

www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html 

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1163533/day_of_the_dead/