Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos is a multi-day celebration to honor departed ancestors. The observance originated with Indigenous peoples of Mexico thousands of years ago and has become much more widespread in recent decades, as a way for people to connect with and honor their loved ones. Día de Muertos is not Halloween, but rather a special time deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions. Typically November 1st is the day to honor children and infants and November 2nd is the day to honor adults. Because of colonization in Mexico, the days now coincide with Catholic All Saints’ and All Souls’ days. Celebrations vary regionally and even family to family. Here are a few resources that you can use to learn more about this special holiday:

• Find titles and resources to learn about and celebrate Día de los Muertos in this curated list Celebrating the Day of the Dead from Colorín Colorado. Create a display using QR code shelf talkers.

• Learn more about the calavera (skeleton) imagery created by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada, aka Don Lupe, and its connection to Día de los Muertos by listening to this audiobook excerpt for Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras.

• Create styrofoam prints that mimic a technique José Guadalupe Posada used, featured in Duncan Tonatiuh’s Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras. This art project and more can be found in this educator guide.”

• Hear from author George Ancona about his experience with the Day of the Dead and his inspiration for writing Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead in this Meet-the-Author Recording.

• Watch this video book reading narrated by Rita Moreno for The Day of the Dead / El día de los muertos, then project and make a jigsaw puzzle together as a class.

• Make papel picado, learn how to build ofrendas, and learn some Mexican songs and rhymes in this teacher's guide for Just a Minute!: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales.