What is the El Día de los Muertos? What is it not?

El Día de los Muertos is a joyful reunion with deceased loved ones. It is a joyful,whimsical and silly celebration. It is NOT Halloween.

What should an altar consist of for El Día de los Muertos?

It should consist of several layers or levels covered with a cloth, candles, marigolds (cempazúchitles), copal (resin or incense),

papel picado, photos of the dead, their favorite food and items, pan de muerto

and sugar skulls (calaveritas de azúcar).

It is a happy, whimsical ritual.

What kind of food is offered on the altar? What kind of food is offered for a child’s altar?

Is El día de los Muertos a happy or sad ritual?

Mole, tamales, pan de muerto, calaveritas de azúcar and the favorite foods of the deceased are commonly found on altars. For children, the food is not as

spicy.

When does El día de los Muertos take place?

What is papel picado and how is it used?

It starts at dusk on Oct. 31 with the celebration of the angelitos and goes through Nov. 2 when the spirits of the dead adults are

honored.

It is tissue paper punched with intricate, lace-like designs and

is used to decorate the altar.

Who are los angelitos and when are they honored?

Why are drinks placed on the altar?

Los angelitos are the souls of the children who have died. They are honored starting at dusk on Oct. 31 through Nov.

1.

They believe the spirits are thirsty after their long journey from the

afterlife when they return to celebrate El Día de los Muertos with

the living.

What do marigold and copal do?

What do the sugar skulls symbolize?

The scents lead the spirits back to their loved ones on the Day of the

Dead.

They symbolize the sweet spirits of the

deceased.

Why are candles a necessity at the altar?

Who received the most extravagantly decorated altars?

They light the way for the spirits to return from the

afterlife.

The most recently deceased received the most extravagant

altars.

What is mole?

How do Mexican families plan and prepare for the festival?

It is a savory (not sweet) sauce made from chocolate

and many spices. It often has ground peanuts and hot chili

powder.

Families plan and save all year to decorate the altars and graves of their loved ones. They often spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the holiday.

What kinds of flowers are left for children? For adults?

What are the skeletons on the altars like? How are they different from the skeletons you are used to seeing?

Baby’s breath and white orchids are left for children. Marigolds (cempazúchitles)

are left for adults.

The skeletons on the altars are whimsical and silly, not scary, creepy or

sad.