history and origins
This pre-Hispanic civilization in Mesoamerica, along with the Maya and others, had rituals honoring the dead that are considered the roots of Día de Muertos.
What is the Aztec civilization?
This is the Spanish word for the special altar built in homes to honor and welcome back deceased loved ones.
What is an ofrenda?
The celebration's underlying philosophy is a healthy embrace of this, viewing it as a natural part of the human cycle rather than something to fear.
What is death (or mortality)?
In modern celebrations, people often paint their faces to resemble these, which are a major icon of the holiday.
What are skulls (calaveras) or skeletons?
The Spanish conquistadors tried to combine indigenous customs with this Catholic holiday, traditionally observed on November 1st and 2nd.
What are All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day?
The ofrenda features four elements of nature. This brightly colored, intricately cut paper represents the wind.
What is papel picado?
This iconic female skeletal figure, often dressed in elegant, European-style clothes, was created by José Guadalupe Posada as a satirical critique of the Mexican elite.
Who is La Catrina?
What is Spectre?A parade of enormous skulls and colorful floats was established in Mexico City following its fictional appearance in this 2015 James Bond film.
What is Spectre?
In Aztec mythology, this goddess, whose name translates to "Lady of the Dead," was believed to watch over the bones of past lives.
Who is Mictēcacihuātl?
This sweet, orange-scented bread is placed on the altar as a meal for the returning spirits.
What is pan de muerto?
This 2017 Disney-Pixar film significantly increased global awareness and commercial interest in Día de Muertos traditions, leading to both praise for its portrayal and concerns about commercialization and cultural appropriation.
What is Coco?
These humorous, satirical poems, often published in newspapers around the time of the holiday, are written about people who are still alive but are addressed as if they've passed away.
What are calaveras literarias?
The original indigenous celebrations honoring the dead were held during this season, but were moved by the Spanish to coincide with Catholic holidays.
What is the summer (or the ninth and tenth months of the Aztec calendar)?
The celebration of Día de los Muertos begins in October, but it culminates on these two days.
What are November 1 and November 2?
In the United States, this political and cultural movement in the 1970s and '80s helped bring public Day of the Dead celebrations to prominence as an expression of Mexican American heritage.
What is the Chicano Movement?
José Guadalupe Posada, the artist who popularized La Catrina, was known for his art that served as political and social commentary, often using this form of printmaking.
What is an etching or engraving?
Academics are divided on whether the modern celebration has purely indigenous roots or is a 20th-century rebranding developed to promote Mexican nationalism during the presidency of this figure.
Who is Lázaro Cárdenas?
This day, November 1st, is set aside to remember children who have passed away.
What is Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels)?
In 2008, the Day of the Dead tradition was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by this international body.
What is UNESCO?
The tradition of cleaning and decorating gravesites on November 2nd is a practice that highlights the belief that the living have an intimate and reciprocal relationship with this group.
Who are the deceased (or ancestors or departed loved ones)?