In this post, you can see how other teachers created in-class displays, altars, or bulletin boards related to Día de los Muertos.Īs with any religious holidays, Day of the Dead has to be handled with care and it may be confusing for some families to walk into a classroom and see images of skulls, skeletons, or graveyards. Many teachers embrace the holiday as more deeply rooted in Latino traditions than Cinco de Mayo, for example. Sage and other incenses are also frequently burned to clear the space of negative energy and help the dead find their way.Inside: Bulletin boards, ofrendas, and Day of the Dead decorations in Spanish Classrooms.ĭecorations for Día de Muertos are a welcome alternative to the pervasive chile peppers and sombreros we often see in Spanish classroom decor. Though Day of the Dead isn’t celebrated in every part of the Spanish-speaking world, it is widely celebrated across Latin America and a good way to bring culture into the classroom. The Aztecs burned copal incense as an offering to the gods, and it is used today for Roman Catholic funeral masses. Often fruit punch, hot chocolate, cerveza (beer), tequilla or another favorite of the deceased are presented to refresh the spirits of a spirit after his journey.įire blazes in the candles and incense. Water is the source of life, said to quench the thirst of the dead when they return from a long journey. Black represents death, pink is for celebration, purple signifies mourning, white symbolizes hope, and yellow is for the sun. The papel picado cut papers add a colorful trim. Traditionally there are four of the candles at the top of the altar, either representing a cross and/or the cardinal directions which are said to provide a lighted path to this world. Wind is shown in the flapping papel picado and the flickering candles. Food from the Earth is also important…more on that later. The bright yellow of the marigolds and their fragrance are synonymous with Day of the Dead. Their aroma is said to help lure a spirit back, and the scent is even stronger if the petals are pulled out, so petal paths are often created to guide the souls home. Marigolds, known as “flowers of the dead,” grow and wilt quickly, reflecting the fleeting nature of life. Flowers have a brief life, symbolizing the brevity in which the living occupies the earth. But traditionally, altars contain the four elements of nature: earth, wind, water and fire.įrom the Earth, yellow marigolds are almost always present. There is no wrong way to build at ’s your own personal expression and memory. But most altars are much, much more modest, and are built in a family’s home. In Mexico, many families spend weeks and small fortunes planning and building Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) altars many even hire professional artists to build altars at gravesides. Many include both personalized and traditional elements-several dating back to the pre-invasion Aztec era. What better way to honor and remember loved ones that have passed than to build them an altar filled with your favorite memories of them? The centuries old-tradition of Day of the Dead altars has come to the United States, and it is a great way to show gratitude, celebrate memories and highlight the best and the brightest of their time on earth.Īltars serve to guide returning spirits on their journeys from there to here.
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