This weekend we visited MECA in Houston (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts) for their annual Day of the Dead/ Día de los Muertos exhibit and celebration. The colorful displays, lively music and dancing, and smells of carnitas and fresh tortillas transported us to Mexico. Here is a slideshow of Day of the Dead pictures of what we saw, including the following essential components:

• Ofrendas (the altars families made for their loved ones)
• Food & water left for the visiting spirits (calabaza en tacha, pan de muerto, mole) because they are hungry and thirsy from their journey
  
• “Favorite items” from hobbies, vices, activities
• Photos, poems, prayers and memories
• Lots of skeletons and skulls
• Cempasuchitl (“flor de muerto“= marigold flowers)
• Candles and incense to light the way

Day of the Dead Narrated Slideshow (same video, different versions!)

In Spanish:

In Spanish with English subtitles:

In English:

Click here for more Day of the Dead activities!

Have you ever been to a Day of the Dead celebration? If you’ve enjoyed these Day of the Dead pictures, next October check out your nearest Mexican-American or Hispanic community center that are open in many large cities. Often times universities student groups will also put on a local Day of the Dead celebration. The largest Mexican fine arts museum in the United States is the National Museum of Mexican Art, located in Chicago, IL. They have a wonderful display of Day of the Dead ofrendas for visitors!

Day of the Dead Activity Pack

Teach your students about the Day of the Dead with this incredible Day of the Dead Activity Pack! 60 pages of activities including a powerpoint presentation, a minibook, an informational text with questions, themed math activities, a skeleton craft, and tons of decorations! It also contains a book list, discussion questions with key concept definitions, and a cultural guide for teachers.
Check out the packet at our TPT Store!