All Souls' Day

ALL SOULS’ DAY
November 2


There are many beautiful, funny, and even some sad celebrations throughout Mexico and Central America. Early in November in Mexico and Central America, the holidays All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day are celebrated. Although these are traditional Catholic holidays, they also coincide with an old Aztec celebration of death.
Part of an early Aztec ritual involved placing food on the graves of the departed. The dead loved one was believed to go on a journey, but stayed close to his or her dear ones. It was believed that the dead came to their graves no November 2 to feast on their favorite foods. It was said that the spirits of the dead only came to take back the fragrance of the food, not the substance, which was later eaten by the living. Tamales were among the delicacies, then as now. Other rites pertaining to death and burial, such as placing flowers on graves, took place in those early times over a period of three days.
With the coming of the Spanish, old Native-American customs mingled with the new. The result was a holiday with absolute uniqueness in arts and crafts, foods, fiestas, and more.
Mexican and Central Americans celebrate All Souls’ Day by making ofrendas (little shrines) to place in their homes and in churchyards to honor their loved ones who have died. Families work lovingly to make the ofrendas beautiful. Often, incense and rich yellow or somber black candles are burned. It is believed that the dead love beauty and peek into the living rooms of their families during “holy times” to see the candle and shrines.
Throughout Mexico, where many cultures flow together, death is both respected and feared. Death is common and loved ones are lost frequently. The personalities of the dead loved ones are believed to go on throughout eternity.
There is a particularly beautiful sense among the country people in Mexico and Central America in their communal with the dead. Death is no considered a part of any specific religion. All Souls’ Day provides opportunity for the people to honor their departed loved ones.

Information taken from the book titled, "Fiesta! Mexico and Central America" A Global Awareness Program for Children in Grades 2-5 Written by Barbara Linse and Dick Judd

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The week of October 29, I will start teaching the unit on the Day of the Dead. We will be reading some literature and putting up an ofrenda. The literature books that we will be reading are: El dia de los muertos by Mary Dodson Wade, Calavera Abecedario Day of the Dead Alphabet Book by Jeanette Winter, I remember Abuelito by Janice Leby and Pablo Remembers by George Ancona. The children can participate in putting up the ofrenda by bringing flowers, fruit, nuts or pictures.
I know that some parents because of religious believes do not want their child to participate in putting up the ofrenda. I respect your believes. Just send me a note stating that your child cannot participate in this activity.
On Thursday November 8th , we are going to the Mexican Fine Arts Museum to see the ofrendas. The ofrendas are made by people from the Pilsen community and other places.