Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2. The celebration blends indigenous rituals with Catholic practices, embracing the belief that souls return to reunite with their families. Families create ofrendas (altars) adorned with photos, flowers, candles, and offerings like favorite foods and drinks. It’s believed that the souls of the departed return to visit their living relatives during this time, making it a joyous and celebratory occasion to reconnect and share stories and memories.
On the MICDS campus this week, students engaged in several activities to learn about, honor, and celebrate Día de los Muertos.
Seventh Grade Unpacks the Film Coco
In the film Coco, a young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz despite his family’s generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
Through watching the film, seventh graders in Middle School Spanish Teacher Marcela Casco-Lee’s class learned about the symbolism and the many special traditions associated with Día de los Muertos.
- Marigold flowers (La flor de cempasúchil) – The marigold flower is called “the flower of the dead” and is a traditional offering during the Day of the Dead. Families often use the flower petals to mark the path from the cemetery to their home, believing they light the way for the dead.
- Paper (Papel Picado) – Confetti or chopped paper is a typical decoration, as are handmade papers with intricate designs.
- Skeletons (Calaca) – Skeletons are a common decoration used in Día de los Muertos festivities, which honor the deceased loved ones and represent the duality of life and death.
- Skulls (Calavera) – Traditionally, sugar skulls are created as ornamental gifts for children and family members during Día de los Muertos. Unlike the ghoulish skulls and skeletons associated with Halloween, these brightly colored skulls represent the departed souls in the circle of life.
- Offering (Ofrenda) – The offering is a fundamental element of the Day of the Dead celebration. Many families build an ofrenda, or altar for the dead, at home. In the ofrenda are photographs, special objects, fruit, candles, papel picado, bread of the dead, incense, crosses, and more.
- Music – Mariachi is a traditional genre of music from Mexico, and groups consist of at least three members who play guitar, violin, trumpet, and accordion. With its joyful yet melancholic songs, the music is believed to attract and welcome spirits during the Día de los Muertos celebrations.
Students rotated through different stations, comparing and contrasting items using a Venn diagram. They learned that the Xoloitzcuintli, also known as the Mexican Hairless dog, is considered a guide in the afterlife, and a key feature of Day of the Dead decor is Alebrijes. This Mexican folk art depicts fantastical creatures, animals, people, and objects, often in vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
They completed other activities such as comparing the fictitious character of Ernesto de la Cruz to real-life characters like Pedro Infante, a Mexican ranchera singer and actor, and reading the article La Chancla about punishment by a flip flop. They filled in their own family trees and finalized decorations for their ofrenda with a better understanding of this unique tradition and the importance of family and ancestors.
Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Graders Explore the Day of the Dead
Fifth Grade Dean & Spanish Teacher Christine Mayer shepherded her fifth graders on a campus walk to view the Lower and Upper School ofrendas on display to note and discuss the various decorations and meanings.
Sixth graders in Dhaniela Sousa Charleville’s Middle School Spanish classroom watched and had a meaningful discussion on The Book of Life, a story of a bullfighter who embarks on an afterlife adventure to fulfill the expectations of his family and friends on the Day of the Dead. The discussion centered on comparing and contrasting The Day of the Dead Mexican traditions and important elements depicted in the film with American Halloween traditions.
Her fifth graders dove into learning about Día de los Muertos by exploring the significance of altars and the traditional decorations before decorating their own sugar skulls and folding cempasúchil flowers for the Middle School ofrenda.
Eighth graders in the Middle School Spanish classrooms of Ines Shultz and Natalie Griffin watched a video about Dia de los Muertos. Then, they wrote a story in Spanish about a deceased person, describing their occupation, positive qualities, and favorite hobbies. The writing exercise was designed to support the preterite of the verb « Be, » which is « Ser. »
Lower School Ofrenda Filled with Mini Altares
Fourth graders in Lower School Spanish Teacher Soledad Villagomez‘s classroom created personal altares (altars) representing their family members and offerings. The altares were added to the vibrant display of sugar skulls, candles, and artifacts on the Lower School ofrenda in Lower Schoenberg.
Upper School Science Celebrates Departed Scientists
Upper School Science Teacher Laura Bradford’s AP® Biology students created ofrendas and placed them around the McDonnell STEM building to honor little-known scientists. Bradford said, « Science is collaborative, with many different people often working together to share information and answer questions and solve problems. Unfortunately, many people who have contributed to the growth of human knowledge often go unrecognized, sometimes during their own lifetimes. » Students researched a not-so-well-known deceased scientist and decorated a small Día de los Muertos ofrenda, including a photo and facts about them and their work.
Through these activities, MICDS students honored the past, celebrated the present, and embraced the cultural richness of Día de los Muertos!