1. Day of the Dead Quest Sheets
Nombres: ValentinaKrysiak y Rico Davis Clase: Espanol 43Periodo: 1
Day of the Dead Quest Sheet
Octavio Paz writes the Mexican has no problems with death that he "... chases after it, mocks it, courts
it, hugs it, sleeps with it, it is his favorite plaything and his most lasting love." In your opinion, how is
this idea similar to or different from our "United States" view on death?
The Hispanics honor and love death. They believe that their loved ones will go on to a better place and
they celebrate that. In America, we don’t really honor death unless it’s a fallen soldier. It’s mostly a very
sad time in the dead person’s loved one’s life. One their birthday and/ordeath date they might go and
visit their grave, but in Mexico, they havea special time marked out to celebrate the dead.
When is All Saints Day and All Souls Day celebrated?
All Saints Day comes first, celebrated on November 1, and All Souls Day is celebrated on November 2.
Even though each region in Mexico celebrates Day of the Dead differently, what are things that they
do have in common.
They all have like the same kind of food and festivals, but they have different kinds of rituals.
November 1 is reserved to remember All Saints Day.
November 2 is reserved to remember All Souls Day.
From mid-October to the first week in November, what are some of the items markets and shops stock
up on?
They need more candles to place on the altar.Lots of skeletal figures to place on the altar.Sugar, to make
lots and lots of sugar skulls and candied pumpkins.Flowers to surround the altar.
List 5 edible goodies enjoyed on Day of the Dead.
Foods enjoyed on the Day of the Dead are sugar skulls, candied pumpkins, favorite beverages, and large
meals that were enjoyed by the dead one- usually a meal that takes a lot of effort to make.
2. What are some things that are used to create an altar?
The centerpiece of the altar is the picture of the person who is dead. A feast is around the altar, usually
the dead ones favorite food, for the spirits to enjoy. Soap, towel and a bowl of water is presented at the
altar. Itmes that represent the one being honored, and itmes to set mood for the romance at the altar.
What occurs on November 2?
All souls day- spiritual practice and the science of spirituality.
How do Aztecs view death?
The Aztecs worshipped gods of death and “death gods”. Thye honored the death gods the most and
they thought it an honor when a someone died. They mostly did sacrifices to the gods with real humans.
They would kill and do gross things with theire enemies bodies and they loved sacrificing their own
people to the death gods.
In Mixquic, what takes place to celebrate Day of the Dead?
Parades and rituals.
3. Food Quest Sheet
Nombre ________________________ Clase _________ Periodo ____
Who is la Catrina?
This popular muertos image was created by Mexican artist Jose Guadelupe Posada (1852-1913). It was
modeled in the French style, after the ladies of the early 1900s.
What are some foods that are made during Day of the Dead?
Sugar skulls, Pan de Muerto, Candied pumpkins, chocolate coffins and skulls, and atole.
What are the different types of Pan de Muertos or Bread of the Dead?
Pan de yema, pan de campo, pan de banana, pan de maiz.
What do children love to eat?
All the candied foods.
What is the purpose of having a glass of water at the altar?
Some say that they put water because the souls are thirsty, after there long journey.
In your own words, describe the cemeteries in Mexico? What do you like or dislike about the cemetery
decorations?
They are very colorful. They use a lot more decorations and added figures. We like their added care for
the cemetaries, and they treat the dead as if they were still with them.
Look at the two recipes along the right side of the page. Would you eat either one of these recipes?
What do you like and do not like about each?
4. Nombre_____________________Clase __________ Periodo ________
Wordplay Quest Sheet
Unscramble the vocabulary word, then using the glossary, write the definition.
1. Avlasecr:calayeras
2. Oelm:mole
3. lpoalic:copalli
4. otlae:atole
5. gatnielso: angelitos
6. tacera: careta
7. acavler:calavera
8. fodraen:Ofrenda
9. qfelnaieu:alfenique
10. apnedoslermtuso:pan de los muertos
11. zpamchtcleui:cempoazuchitl
Definitions
1. songs and poems abou the festival
2. a thick sauce made from a variety of ingredients, including chilis, sesame seeds, herbs,
spices, chocolate and fruit
3. a scented resin ued to make incense
4. an ancient drink made from cornmeal and water and flavored with various fruits
5. the souls of the children who have died; literally “little angle”
6. masks worn by dancers to scare the dead away at the end of the celebrations
7. a skull; also a slng term for daredevil
8. an offering; refers to the goods set out on the altars
9. a special comnfection used to fashion skulls, fruits, and other figures
10. bread of the dead
11. a yellow marigold, the symbol of death, also known as cempaschil or zempasuchitl
5. Day of the Dead vs.
Halloween
Day of the Dead Halloween
>people decorate their homes all scary
>people decorate their dead
family/relatives tombstone >children are the primary poarticipants
>both “scary”
>everyone participates >children go from house to house
>celebration of collecting candy
>families dance around the “ghosts”
tomstone and attend festivals >have haunted houses
>celebrations of
>have festivals the dead >primarily an American holiday
>primarily a Mexican and central >Celebrated at
American holiday night
>lots of candies
and sweets