We are celebrating Day of the Dead, called Dia de Muertos in Spainish. It is a Mexican holiday that falls on November 1st and 2nd of each year. On the Day of the Dead, the boundaries between life and death begin to blur. Men, women, and children of all ages honor and celebrate their loved ones who have passsed away, participating joyously in a festival that has roots nearly 4000 years old. To help celebrate, students will be creating different ofrendas to go on our altar here at school.
Ofendas are an essential part of the Day of the Dead celebration. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. During day of the Dead, Dia de Muertos, families and friends will go to the cemeteries to clean up where their loved ones are buried. They may bring flowers, food, or objects the person enjoyed in life, ofrendas. If they are honoring a child the family and friends might bring toys and candy. Often there will be pictures set-out to remind the living what the person looked like.
Sometimes altares, altars, are created at home because families are unable to attend the grave-site or they want a more intimate reminder of those who have gone on before. The altars will hold a pictures of the people the family and friends are honoring along with: candles, foods, marigolds, sugar-skulls (calavera),images of Saints, tequila for the adults, milk or water for the children, rosaries, pan los muertos (bread of the dead), incense, fresh fruit, salt, and other symbolic ofrendas. These are the items the spirit may enjoy when they come back to earth to visit their family and friends.
The soulds that visit their altars do not actually eat or drink what is on the altar. They can't-- -they have no bodies! Instead, they absorb the aroma and energy of the food, which nourishes their spirits.
After the holiday is over, the foods and drinks on the altar are distributed among the family and friends.
What an amazing time to remember and experience joyful representation of the duality of life and death!
Ofendas are an essential part of the Day of the Dead celebration. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. During day of the Dead, Dia de Muertos, families and friends will go to the cemeteries to clean up where their loved ones are buried. They may bring flowers, food, or objects the person enjoyed in life, ofrendas. If they are honoring a child the family and friends might bring toys and candy. Often there will be pictures set-out to remind the living what the person looked like.
Sometimes altares, altars, are created at home because families are unable to attend the grave-site or they want a more intimate reminder of those who have gone on before. The altars will hold a pictures of the people the family and friends are honoring along with: candles, foods, marigolds, sugar-skulls (calavera),images of Saints, tequila for the adults, milk or water for the children, rosaries, pan los muertos (bread of the dead), incense, fresh fruit, salt, and other symbolic ofrendas. These are the items the spirit may enjoy when they come back to earth to visit their family and friends.
The soulds that visit their altars do not actually eat or drink what is on the altar. They can't-- -they have no bodies! Instead, they absorb the aroma and energy of the food, which nourishes their spirits.
After the holiday is over, the foods and drinks on the altar are distributed among the family and friends.
What an amazing time to remember and experience joyful representation of the duality of life and death!
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