It could include cherished books, musical instruments, special jewelry as well as favorite foods or drinks. Prepare the ofrenda: The ofrenda is meant to welcome the spirits of your loved ones back to the realm of the living and as such, consists of the items that were important to them. The beauty of creating your altar is that you can do a little at a time and build upon it leading up to the big day.ģ. Focus on making papel picado one day, and drawing sugar skulls the next. Think skulls/ calaveras, flowers/ flores, candles/ velas(the flame doesn’t necessarily need to be real!), and papel picado, literally translated as, pierced paper. Decorate! This is also a convenient time to teach some basic Spanish vocabulary. You can put the photos in picture frames or hang on photo clips, which may be the best bet for families with little ones.Ģ. The important part is to use it as an opportunity to share interesting stories about each individual and to teach your child about their own ancestry and heritage (making a family tree is a helpful way to visualize the connections). Find photos of family members: You can go as far back in generations as you like. Once you’ve done the groundwork, you can start working on your altar! How to Make a Kid-Friendly Altar:ġ. Of course, you can always substitute, or complement screen time with reading books as there are plenty to choose from. Sit down and watch these with your kiddos so that you can pause together and talk about questions as they come up. And for children with shorter attention spans, PBS’ Let’s Go Luna! does a fantastic job explaining the concept at a high level. I can’t recommend the movie Coco enough for anyone five to 101-years-old. You can make Día de los Muertos a family tradition of your own, but before you jump in, indulge in some age-appropriate media to acquaint yourselves with its significance. And now that my children understand not only what the holiday is, but also how to celebrate it, it has become one of our own family traditions. More information on ofrenda locations across campus and Dia de los Muertos events can be found here.We had a chance to see, and feel how truly special this day is for so many people while we were living in Mexico during the pandemic. Now I do it every year, and unfortunately, I have to add a picture every year. I only began celebrating Dia de los Muertos in 2019 after losing my brother. My aunt has always celebrated Dia de los Muertos, and her entire porch is one large ofrenda. What does Dia de los Muertos mean to you? In Mexico there are often parades and other cultural events. These may be arranged on different levels of the altar as well.įood and Water: pan de muertos (a glass or other vessel of water)ĭia de los Muertos has Aztec roots and grew to be a Mexican tradition, though it’s celebrated differently in many Latin American countries. Other parts of the celebration include going to church and going out for a family meal. There are four key components included in the altar that are designed to represent different elements: earth, wind, light, and water. We sat down with Melissa to learn more about Dia de los Muertos in her own words: What is Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos?ĭia de los Muertos is a traditional celebration on November 1 and 2 to remember those who have passed away. This ofrenda in the lobby of Chittenden Hall is part of a campus-wide collaboration designed to celebrate Dia de los Muertos and was organized by Graduate School Chief of Staff Melissa Del Rio in collaboration with other offices on campus. A centerpiece of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos in Spanish) celebration, the ofrenda is an altar that is used to pay tribute to deceased loved ones. This brightly colored arrangement of photographs, flowers, skulls, and other items is an ofrenda. Recent visitors to Chittenden Hall will have noticed some new décor as they enter the building.
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