DÍA DE MUERTOS

Celebrated in many countries in Latin America, it’s a day to remember our family and friends that have passed, visit them at the cemetery and it is believed their souls have permission to come back to our world and visit their families for the day.

It is celbrated in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras and Bolivia.

How to create a Día de Muertos Altar

A Día de Muertos altar in Mexico has 3 levels that represent from bottom to top – the floor or the underworld, the base, or this world and the top or the spirit world.

The underworld: in pre-Hispanic Mexico, the floors were dirt giving a direct connection with the earth. A cross with rock salt was drawn in the dirt to indicate the cardinal points and help indicate the way back home. Nowadays the cross can be incorporated as a Catholic cross as well due to the mixture of pre-Hispanic and Colonia cultures.
This World: Start with a colorful tablecloth
- Start with a colorful tablecloth. Your ancestors’ favorite foods – while in Mexico many families still cook the actual dish, nowadays many also add the miniature version. You can also add their favorite fruits and veggies, beverages, and candy. And of course, do not forget the sugar and chocolate skulls.

Pan de muerto (sweet day of death Mexican bread) – this delicious combination of orange zest, aniseed, and sugar and more sugar!! Nothing compares to going to your local bakery and getting it out of the oven fresh and warm.

A glass of water to clean and purify – also said to be for the soul that will be thirsty from the long trip.
Salt – purifies the soul and helps them safely return
The candles – essential light to illuminate the path for our ancestors to find the way.
The copal and incense – this will clean and purify the space for the souls to come.
zempasúchitl (marigold flowers) these will indicate the path for the soul to return home.

Baby’s breath flower (flor de nube) – this will indicate the path for the children / baby’s souls.
Toys for the children’s souls

The spirit world: this is where all the pictures of our ancestors will be placed along with more candles and often Catholic elements such as a cross, a candle with a Saint, the figurine of a Saint, etc.

Papel picado (tissue paper): this represents the happiness of meeting our ancestors again. Papel picado is an art that has been passed down generations, artisans do it in Mexico – if you are buying some, I would encourage to do the original tissue. The plastic version is a mass-produced product that endangers the tradition.

Other elements of the altar: it is common to add other decorations to the altar, like family heirlooms, the deceased favorite games or instrument as well as Catrinas, calacas and nichos – wooden boxes depicting a social scene with calaca characters.

If this is your first year, don’t get overwhelmed, use what you already have at home and let it evolve over the years. Please do consider buying from Hispanic artists or small business that support artisan communities.

For more resources on how to celebrate Dia de Muertos and raising bilingual please visit: https://www.milegasi.com/

Books for Celebrating Dia de muertos

1) La Catrina y La Llorona

Author: Patty Rodriguez
Ages: Baby – 4 years
Grades: Baby to Preschool
Boardbook
Language: Bilingual Spanish

Concept: La Catrina is a book of emotions, the calavera shows different expressions. La Llorona is a book for counting backwards.

2) ¡Es la Hora de los Esqueletos! / It’s Skeleton Time!

Author: Ana Galá
Ages: 4 years – 8 years
Grades: Preschool – 3^rd Grade
Paperback
Language: Bilingual Spanish

Concept: Teaches how to tell time in English and Spanish. It is an adaptation of a Costa Rican kids song filled with beautiful illustrations around Día de los Muertos.

3) Dia de Los Muertos

Author: Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Ages: 4 years – 8 years
Grades: Preschool – 3^rd Grade
Paperback
Language: English

Concept: It narrates a little town’s preparation for Día de los Muertos. The rhymes are easy and include some of the words in Spanish with a glossary at the back, perfect for bilingual kids. The illustrations are just beautiful and colorful.

4) I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Death Story / Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un cuento del Día de los Muertos

Author: Janice Levy
Ages: 4 years – 8 years
Grades: Preschool – 3^rd Grade
Paperback
Language: Bilingual Spanish

Concept: Describes how a family gets ready to celebrate Día de los Muertos as well as the significance and importance of the holiday for the Hispanic community.

5) The Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras

Author: Luis San Vicente
Ages: 4 years – 8 years
Grades: Kindergarten– 3^rd Grade
Paperback
Language: Bilingual Spanish

Concept: It is the biggest fiesta in the cemetery and the calaveras are all excited to celebrate.

6) Rosita y Conchita

Author: Eric Gonzalez
Ages: 4 years – 7 years
Grades: Preschool – 2^nd Grade
Hardcover
Language: Bilingual Spanish

Concept: Conchita misses her twin sister Rosita. On the Day of the dead Conchita makes sure to have the altar ready for when her siter comes back. Rosita has a difficult time finding her way back, but with Conchita’s help she will make it on time.