Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that originated from Aztec traditions celebrating the dead. On this day, families visit cemeteries and set up offerings of flowers, candles, food, drink and personal items for deceased loved ones. They hold candlelight vigils and late-night feasts, tell stories, and mourn the dead while also celebrating their lives. Traditional foods made for this holiday include sugar skulls and pan de muerto bread.

1. Day of the Dead
By: Kelly Fussman

2. The Origins
• Aztec death & afterlife
• Astronomy
• Cortés & Christianity
• Pagan traditions

3. The Offering
• Flowers
• Candles
• Skulls
• Food
• Drink
• Pictures
• Personal items

4. The Offering

5. Cemetery Vigil
• Candles
• Flowers
• Late-night feasts
• Open-air mass
• Music
• Storytelling
• Mourning

6. Special Foods & Sweets
Sugar Skulls Pan de muerto

7. Cemetery Vigil
• Candles
• Flowers
• Late-night feasts
• Open-air mass
• Music
• Storytelling
• Mourning

8. Halloween vs. Day of the Dead
Suggests a Celebration
fear of death of death
Mocks
death
Monsters, Fiestas,
costumes offerings

9. “To the inhabitant of New York,
Paris, or London, death is a word
that is never uttered because it
burns the lips. The Mexican on the
other hand, frequents it, mocks it,
caresses it, sleeps with it,
entertains it; it is one of his favorite
play things and his most enduring
love.”