Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is celebrated in Mexico between October 31st and November 2nd. The celebration is designed to honor the dead* who, it is believed**, return to their homes on Halloween.
The Day of the Dead has its origins from pre-Hispanic civilizations from 2,500 to 3,000 years ago, before the Spanish conquered Mexico. That celebration took place*** in the 9th month of the Aztec calendar and lasted the whole month.
Traditionally, November 1 is the day for honoring dead children and infants, and November 2 is the day for honoring deceased adults.
It’s a festive and colourful holiday. Many families construct an altar to the dead in their homes to honor deceased relatives**** and decorate it with sweets, flowers, photographs, deceased’s favorite foods and drinks, and fresh water.
Families clean the graves***** of their deceased relatives and decorate them with flowers, photos, candles, foods and drinks. People are all night in the cementeries, telling funny stories about their dead ancestors or playing the favorite songs of the dead.
Day of the Dead celebrations now also include community festivals, parades******, and street parties.
Mexican people love making or buying sugar skulls ,called “calav
eras de azúcar” in Spanish. Children often give their friends sugar skulls.
Catrinas dolls are the most popular symbol of The Day of the Dead in Mexico. They are tall and thin skelletons dressed up in beautiful clothes and decorated with flowers.They were created by a Mexican artist called Jose Guadalupe Posada.
dead*= muertos it is believed**= se cree
took place***= tenía lugar deceased relatives****= familiares fallecidos
graves*****= tumbas parades*******- desfiles
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