Articles 2 & 3: Day of the Dead Altars & DDLM vs Halloween

What is the purpose of the altars?

• To demonstrate how much you loved your loved ones who have died

• To lay out ofrendas the spirits will enjoy when they come back to earth to visit their living

  families and friends

• To decorate the homes so the spirit feel welcome when they return to the living world

Select the five possible objects that could be laid out on the altar.​ ​ ​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)   ​ ​ ​​ (d)   ​ (e)  

• salt
• marigolds
• photo of the deceased
• candle
• water
• photo of the living family members
• hummingbird
• Halloween candy

How do the spirits “eat” and “drink” what is left on the altars?

• The food disappears because they have come to eat and drink it.

• Their living family members eat and drink for them.

• They absorb the aroma and energy of the food.

• They leave it on the altar until it goes bad and that's how they know it's been "consumed."

What is the purpose of water on the altar?

• Souls are thirsty after their long journey from the Other Side.

• Souls need to be cleansed and they use it to bless themselves upon reentering the living world.

What is the purpose of marigolds on the altar?

• They are a welcome home bouquet.

• Their strong fragrance and bright sun-like color and shape helps lead the dead back to their altars.

What is the purpose of soap on the altars?

• Soap is for the spirit to "freshen up."

• Soap is there for decoration and a sign of purity and cleanliness.

What is the purpose of salt on the altars?

• It's there for the spirits to put on the food left for them.

• It represents the continuance of life.

What is the purpose of the candles on the altar?

• They welcome the spirits back to their altars.

• They are there for decoration and to bless the spirits.

Organize these statements about Día de los Muertos and Halloween into the correct category

Groups:

(a) Similarities

,

(b) Differences

• Death is not feared on Día de los Muertos

• Both holidays occur around November 1st, All Saint's Day

• Día de los Muertos is celebrated for 3 days

• Families and friends gather to celebrate together

• People dress up in costumes

• It is a time when death and/or dying is discussed

• Halloween focuses on the terror and fear surrounding death

• Dead loved ones are honored on Día de los Muertos

The marigold is called, flor de muerto, because the legend says...

• t's the only flower powerful enough to attract dead souls back to the living world

• it's the only flower that grows in Miclán, the Aztec Underworld or Place of Death

• Huitzilin, an Aztec warrior, died and Xochitl, his childhood love, wanted to reunite with him, so she was reincarnated as a marigold