Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Da de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated

throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses
on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and
family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where
the day is a bank holiday. The celebration takes place on October 31,
November 1 and November 2, in connection with the Christian triduum of
Hallowmas: All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions
connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas
honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods
and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They
also leave possessions of the deceased.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous
observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated
to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world: In
Brazil Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by
visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain there are festivals and parades, and,
at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead
loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly
themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to a preColumbian past. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors had been observed
by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2,5003,000 years. In the preHispanic era skulls were commonly kept as trophies and displayed during the
rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.
The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of
the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an
entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess known as the "Lady
of the Dead", corresponding to the modern Catrina.
Source: Wikipedia: Day of the Dead

Test: Reading Comprehension Day of the Dead

Read the information above. In the test questions below choose which is the best answer
for each question. There are 5 questions. Good luck.
1. What does the Day of the Dead holiday
focus on?
a. communicating with the dead

b. visiting cemeteries
c. gatherings of family and friends
d. enjoying parties
2. Day of the Dead is which of the
following?
a.
b.
c.
d.

bank holiday
post office holiday
paid vacation holiday
international holiday

3. Which of the following is NOT

connected to the Day of the Dead holiday?
a.
b.
c.
d.

All Hallows' Eve

All Deceased Day
All Saints' Day
All Souls' Day

4. The deceased are honored with which of

the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.

marigolds
money
poetry
tacos

5. Scholars trace the origins of the modern

Mexican holiday to which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.

a Pagan festival
an Aztec festival
a Christian festival
a Chinese festival

From YOUR Teacher: Day of the Dead

This holiday is celebrated primarily in Mexico. After spending many years growing up in
New York, I moved to San Diego, California which is located in the southwestern United
States. San Diego is on the border of Mexico and has a very large Mexican population.
You can see evidence of this holiday being celebrated throughout the city.

Brazil: Finados (Day of the Dead)

By Mark Taylor
Following All Saints Day (November 1st) the public holiday of Finados (Day of the
Dead) is celebrated here in Brazil on November 2nd.
The idea is to remember the life of loved ones, so many people will go to cemeteries and
churches, and take flowers, light candles, and pray. Despite the morbid subject the
celebration is intended to be a positive one, and the day is set aside specifically to celebrate
the life of, and remember those who are deceased.
The origins of this celebration are a little lost in time, but it&rsquot;s a holiday that has
been celebrated for thousands of years in Latin America and clearly stems from there. Most
likely the origins are from cultures such as the Aztecs and Mayans who revered their
ancestors, and wanted to honour their memory. It was a common practice to keep the skulls
of ancestors as trophies, and then display them during rituals such as this and also those that
symbolised birth. Hence skulls are a potent symbol still used in countries like Mexico.
The holiday is celebrated throughout Latin America, but is also celebrated in growing
numbers in parts of the USA, principally those areas that have large Latin American
immigrant populations.

Dia de los Muertos: History and Meaning

of the Day of the Dead
Updated on June 23, 2016
The history and meaning of El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) go back to before
the Spanish Conquest. The festival, celebrated across Latin America on 2nd November,
includes a mixture of indigenous Latin American and Christian beliefs. It has some
similarities to Halloween, but is a unique festival with its own history and traditions, and it
is celebrated in different ways in different countries.

Dia de los muertos has a lot of history and meaning for the indigenous people of Peru.

Dia de los Muertos, traditional food in Peru.

History and Meaning of Dia de los Muertos

Before the Spanish and Portuguese colonised large parts of the Americas, bringing the
Catholic church in their wake, the Indigenous peoples of Latin America followed their own
native religions. These religions had beliefs in the importance of maintain a connection
with dead ancestors - hence you can still see today many pre-Columban tombs across the
region, where living relatives of the dead person would have left food and other 'offerings'
to keep the dead spirit content.
People at this time believed a discontented spirit would return to haunt the family and
would bring bad luck. This 'ancestor worship' as it is sometimes called was very important
to indigenous civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs, as well as finding some expression
also in the shamanistic belief-systems of the rainforest peoples. There are still many
popular ghost stories centred on the night before the day of the dead - much like the
Halloween tradition of Europe and North America.
The Catholic church did its best to establish Catholic doctrine across the continent. While
they were successful in converting the indigenous population to Christian observances such
as attending mass, they did not entirely erradicate native superstitions and beliefs. Many
Latin American people today, especially indigenous peoples, believe that a Shaman can
help to cure their illnesses. Others such as the Mayan peoples of Guatemala leave
traditional spirit offerings at Catholic shrines, such as a bird feather or a lucky coin.

The history and meaning of the Dia de los Muertos combines both Catholic and indigenous
traditions. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico they found an Aztec tradition thousands of
years old, involving the use of skulls to honour the dead. In Mexico skulls are still an
important part of celebrations - but today they make 'sugar skulls' and wear skull masks
rather than using the real thing! Other Latin American countries don't use skulls to mark the
Dia de los Muertos, but instead build altars at the graves of loved ones where they leave
offerings.
As in many Catholic countries across the world, the Day of the Dead is a day to visit the
graves of dead family members and leave candles or flowers. However, in keeping with the
indigenous tradition of maintaining a connection with between living and dead family
members, the dia de los muertos is not a sombre occasion but more of a joyous family gettogether. Indigenous people in particular celebrate the day by holding something of a
festival in the local graveyard, complete with music, chatter and ice-cream. Outside the
walls there will often be stalls selling food and drink, with something of a street party going
on.

How the Day of the Dead Is Celebrated in Different Parts

of Latin America

Mexico has some of the most well-known and flamboyant 'Dia de los Muertos
traditions'. These include wearing skull masks or painting the face to look like a
skull. People also make 'sugar skulls'. The video above gives a great insight into
Mexican celebrations at this time of year.

Brazil celebrates finados on 2nd November. Families get together to pray for loved
ones who have died. Like other Latin American countries, the day is a positive
expression of love for those who have passed on, and people visit the graves of
relatives with flowers and candles.

Peru / Ecuador: In the Andean countries, the Dia de los Muertos is especially
important to the Quichua people, the descendants of the Incas. People visit the
graves of relatives and create altars of ofrendas (offerings) at the graves, such as
flowers and candles. There are parties in the street, sometimes in the cemetery
itself! Traditional food is cuy (roast guinea pig), flat cakes shaped like gingerbread
men and many drink chicha , the local homemade beer.

In Haiti people also flock to cemeteries, but as well as leaving candles and flowers
for the dead they also pray to Baron Samedi, the guardian spirit of the dead to help
them have luck in future. In Haiti the day of the dead is really two days, as the
celebrations last longer than other Latin American countries. The African heritage of
Haiti gives their Day of the Dead celebrations a unique voodoo influence - during
the festivities people dance all night at peristyles (voodoo temples).

Example of a Dia de los Muertos altar

Ideas for Celebrating the Day of the Dead

Make an altar to commemorate a loved-one. You don't need to go to their

graveside but can do this in your home. Set aside a small niche in a quiet place and
add a photo of the person, some candles and flowers, and maybe a special object
that reminds you of them.

Visit the graveside of any relatives who have died. Bring fresh flowers and take
some time to tidy up the grave, as a mark of affection and respect for the person
who has passed on. Take some time to remember all the good times you had
together in a spirit of celebration and gratitude.

Make skull masks at home or in the classroom. This is a chance to explain to

children about the different festivals that are celebrated around the world, and to
compare the similarities between Dia de los Muertos and halloween. This is a link
to a print and cut skull mask: http://www.leehansen.com/printables/masks/skullmask.htm. You can colour it in as brightly as you like!

Make your own sugar skulls. Check out the recipe in this article:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Day-of-the-Dead-Observances. It also has good ideas for
Day of the Dead altars.

Try some day of the dead face-painting. The video below will show you how to
face-paint a dia de los muertos skull, step-by-step. Or read this article for more
information on day of the dead face-painting: Meaning of Dia de los Muertos face
painting.

Dia de Muertos|Day of the Dead 2015 |F.A.Q.| #1

What is Dia de Muertos?

Dia de Muertos is a Mexican celebration of Mesoamerican origins honoring the dead. They
are mainly held on 1 and 2 November , although in some places begins from October 31 ,
coinciding with the Catholic celebrations of Day Souls and All Saints.
The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends
and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey. In 2008 the
tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity by UNESCO. In Brazil there is a similar celebration known as Dia dos Finados,
although this festival does not have the same pre-Hispanic roots that the Day of the Dead.
Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas,
honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages
of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. Visitors also leave possessions of the
deceased at the graves.

*pictured, your average day in Mexico

What are the origns of it?
The cult of death in Mexico is not new, it was already practiced since pre-Columbian
times . Also, in the Aztec calendar you can see that between 18 months that are this
calendar, there were at least six festivals dedicated to the dead. Later, Christian missionaries
of colonial times partly accepted the traditions of ancient Mesoamerican peoples, fusing
with European traditions, to introduce Christianity among these peoples .
The origins of the Day of the Dead in Mexico predated the arrival of the Spaniards. There
are records of ethnic celebrations in Mexica , Maya , Purpecha and Totonac cultures. The
rituals that celebrate the life of the ancestors are made in these civilizations from preColumbian times. Among the prehistoric peoples was common practice to keep skulls as
trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.
The festival that became the Day of the Dead was commemorated the ninth month of the
Aztec solar calendar , near the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month.
The festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecachuatl**, known as the "Lady
Death" (now related to " La Catrina "character of Jose Guadalupe Posada ) and wife of
Mictlantecuhtli , Lord of the land of the dead. The festivities were dedicated to the
celebration of children and the lives of deceased relatives.

**pictured Mictecachuatl and her husband, Mictlantecuhtli

**tumblr rendition of Mictecachuatl and her husband, Mictlantecuhtli

Dia de Muertos Traditions
Common Dia de Muertos traditions include creating altars to honor the dead, laying out
offerings, sharing stories of the deceased, as well as cleaning and decorating their graves.
Because Day of the Dead is a very festive, creative holiday, current Dia de Muertos
customs also include festivals, parades, theater plays (Don Juan Tenorio being the most
tradiotional one) and the making of Dia de los Muertos crafts.
The key purpose behind these Dia de Muertos customs is to make contact with the spirits of
the dead (or memories, if you don't believe in ghost and all that), to let them know that they
are not forgotten and that their loved ones on earth still care about them. It is a way of
keeping the connection between loved ones alive, though they may be physically separated
by death.

Dia de Muertos traditions can vary from town to town, with each community embracing
their own unique blend of rituals, customs, and celebrations. Although the Dia de Muertos
customs in a small village in Mexico may differ from the Dia de Muertos customs in a large
American city like San Francisco, there are still several common Dia de Muertos traditions
that are carried out no matter what the location.
Here are the most common and important Day of the Dead traditions:
** Creating an altar with offerings (known as ofrenda)
** Visiting, cleaning, and decorating gravesites
** Telling stories about the deceased
** Making food for the deceased, to be placed on altars
** Making or buying sugar skulls and pan de muerto

**The altars and ofrendas are one of the most important Dia de Muertos customs
Creating Dia de Muertos altars is one of the most important Dia de Muertos traditions. Dia
de Muertos altars are typically created inside people's homes to honor the spirits of their

deceased loved ones. When Dia de Muertos is embraced by the community, non-secular
altars are also created in schools, government offices, and other community spaces.
The materials commonly used to make an offering to the Day of the Dead has a meaning,
and are among others:
The candy skulls have written on their foreheads the name (or in some cases living people,
in the form of modest joke that offends not mentioned in particular), and consume relatives
or friends.

The pan de muerto is a representation of the Eucharist , and was added by the Spanish
missionaries . It is a sweet muffin baked in different shapes, from simple rounded shapes to
skulls, bones adorned with forms made with the same bread; It is sprinkled with sugar and
is made anise .

Flowers. During the period 1 to November 2 families usually clean and decorate the graves
with colorful wreaths of roses and sunflowers, among others, but mainly cempaschitl ,
which is believed to attract and guide the souls of the dead. Almost all cemeteries are
visited by many people.

Cempaschitl flower is a symbol of sun glare, which is considered the origin of everything.
Guides souls to indicate the direction in which you reach outside your home. Each flower
represents a life, and in the case of late means that this still has a place within the whole,
and that has not been forgotten by his friends and family. Interestingly, in the town of
Huaquechula, in the state of Puebla, there cempaschitl flower is used, but the tombs are
decorated with cloud and gladiola .
The offering and the visit of souls. It is believed that the souls of the children return visit on
November first , and that the souls of adults returning on Day 2 . In the event that you can
not visit the grave, either because there is no tomb deceased or because the family is far
away to visit her, also made detailed altars in homes, where they get gifts , which can be
food dishes, pan de muerto, water glasses, mezcal , tequila , pulque or atole , cigarettes and
even toys for the souls of children. All this is placed next to the portrait of the deceased,
surrounded by candles.
Portrait of person remembered: The portrait of the deceased suggests that the visit bore the
evening of 2 November. This image honors the top of the altar. It stands back and front of
her mirror is placed so that the deceased can only see the reflection of their relatives and
they see their deceased only once.
Paint or chrome Souls of Purgatory: The image of the souls in purgatory serves to request
the departure of purgatory the soul of the deceased in case they find there.
Twelve candles: Although they may be less, must be in pairs, preferably purple, with
crowns and wax flowers. Candles, especially if they are purple, are mourning. The four
candles in cross represent the four cardinal points, so that the soul can be oriented to find
their way home and apart from water and salt.
Cruz: Used in most of the altars, is introduced by Spanish missionaries, in order to
incorporate the catechism such a strong tradition among the Indians, as the veneration of
the dead symbol. To remind her faith, since the Ash Wednesday is told the phrase,
"Remember you are dust and to dust you", which is remembered returning to the earth from
which it came. The cross is on top of the altar on the side of the image of the deceased and
this can be salt, ash, earth or lime.

Pumpkin on blemish: Pumpkin ( Cucurbita moschata ) occupies a privileged place in both

traditional pre-Hispanic cuisine as in today. It is part of the food tetralogy of the country,
next to the corn , the beans and chili , with which it is grown in the same cornfield . She
takes advantage of all stems, guides, flowers, fruits and seeds. On the altar is prepared as
sweet, called pumpkin blemish that the container used in the manufacture of sugar is called
"trash"; Pumpkin is confitaba boilers that sugar was manufactured: cooked with sugar,
cinnamon, hawthorn , pieces of sugar cane or other ingredients, according to the taste of
those who cook. The preparation of the pumpkin blemish is to introduce such fruit in a
basket of palm is candied in boilers where sugar is produced. This is the traditional way,
because in the old mills machines concentration of guar or cane juice into two conical
boiler, placed on one oven (dumbbell) is made; one of the boilers was malERA, and one
strikeout. Currently he prepares baked in honey brown sugar or brown sugar, formerly
called strikeout also to bless the houses. The crystallized sweet called calabazate .
Confetti: Also usually adorn the offerings with confetti which is a Mexican crafts that are
made with tissue paper cut with figures of skeletons and skulls, this is considered as a
representation of the festive joy of the Day of the Dead and wind.
Tejocote Rod: with this step will open the soul returning to visit relatives, so you should not
remove the thorns.
Cane bow and flowers: in some parts of Mexico are used to make this bow, which
symbolizes the passage to a life of purification and abandonment of the earthly body
Copal and incense : Copal is a pre-Hispanic element that cleans and purifies the energy of a
place, sanctifying the environment.
Water: Water is very important because, among other meanings, reflecting the purity of the
soul, heaven continuous regeneration of life and crops and the offering is represented with a
full glass of water it helps the spirit mitigate their thirst after the journey from the world of
the dead.
Food: traditional food or who was liked by the deceased is placed so that the soul is placed
enjoyment.
Alcoholic beverages: Are drinks that taste of the deceased were called "drink", usually they
are "horses" of tequila, pulque, mezcal and beer.
Decorating Gravesites
On Dia de Muertos, many families will congregate in graveyards to clean the graves of
their loved ones who have passed. They decorate the graves with Mexican marigolds called
cempaschil, often lovingly arranged. Graves are adorned with photos, mementos and gifts,
such as the dead person's favorite foods and drinks. These gifts, or offerings, are meant to
attract the dead, helping them find their way back to their loved ones on earth. The burning
candles and scent of copal incense also help guide the departed back to earth.

The tradition of grave-cleaning on Dia de Muertos takes on a festive air. Graveyard picnics
are common as people interact with the spirits of the deceased as if they were still alive.
These graveyard visits often turn into all-night vigils with candlelit ceremonies and hired
bands to play the favorite music of the dead.
The event becomes a social gathering marked by a combination of festivity and
introspection, as everyone honors their dead loved ones, communicating with their spirits
while reflecting on their own mortality in the circle of life and death and sharing stories
about the Deceased

Part of honoring the dead is to tell stories about them, such as funny anecdotes or poems
that poke fun at their quirks (known as calaveras). It is believed that the dead do not want to
be thought of in a sad or somber manner - they want to be remembered and celebrated,
since they are still alive just in another form.
Therefore Dia de Muertos is the right time to poke fun at your late Aunt Maria's obsession
with hair spray or to re-tell that day when Uncle Jose was so drunk he fell into the lake. In
fact, you'd even place a can of Aunt Maria's favorite hairspray on her altar and a bottle of
Uncle Jose's favorite gargle balster on his altar.
In Mexican culture, these stories form part of each family's oral tradition, as tales of family
members are passed on from generation to generation. It keeps the family history alive.
Calaveras and La Catrina
A calavera is a representation of a human skull. The term is most often applied to
decorative or edible skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar or clay which are used
in the Mexican celebration of the Dia de Muertos and the Roman Catholic holiday All
Souls' Day. Calavera can also refer to any artistic representations of skulls, such as the
lithographs of Jos Guadalupe Posada. The most widely known calaveras are created with
cane sugar and are decorated with items such as colored foil, icing, beads, and feathers.
Poetry written for the Day of the Dead are known as literary calaveras, and are intended to
humorously criticize the living while reminding them of their mortality. Literary calaveras
appeared during the second half of the nineteenth century, when drawings critical of
important politicians began to be published in the press. Living personalities were depicted
as skeletons exhibiting recognizable traits, making them easily identifiable. Additionally,
drawings of dead personalities often contained text elements providing details of the deaths
of various individuals.
Patricia Hurricane
Cerca del 2 de noviembre
una tragedia ocurri
pues como huracn Patricia
la huesuda se disfraz
Con un kilmetro de ancho
hasta a la NASA espant
pero cuando toc tierra
algo extrao sucedi
Dicen que fue por la Sierra
que su fuerza aminor
otros creen en un milagro
debido a la oracin

Solo daos materiales

el fenmeno ocasion
y con el ojo cuadrado
a todo el mundo dej
Se report saldo blanco
y una que otra inundacin
por fortuna en sta vez
la muerte nos la pel.
Trump
La muerte se puso lista
Se volvi internacional
Se aburri de los platillos
Mexicanos pa variar
Dijo me voy al gabacho
A buscar a un tal Donaldo
Dicen que anda de alzadito
a la raza provocando
Pos que no sabes chamaco
Que en el gringo dominamos
Que somos gran mayora
Y los que ms trabajamos?
Nos acusas delincuentes
Y tambin de haber robado
Mejor lvate los dientes,
Que de plano estas drogado?
La huesuda lo encontr
A Donald Trump con presteza
De la mata lo agarro
La mata de la cabeza
Ahora si mi canijito
Mi cabeza de estropajo
Ya te met en el costal
Y de esto yo no me rajo
La Catrina

La Calavera Catrina is a 19101913 zinc etching by famous Mexican printmaker, cartoon

illustrator and lithographer Jos Guadalupe Posada. The image depicts a female skeleton
dressed only in a hat befitting the upper class outfit of a European of her time. Her chapeau
en attende is related to French and European styles of the early 20th century. She is offered
as a satirical portrait of those Mexican natives who, Posada felt, were aspiring to adopt
European aristocratic traditions in the pre-revolutionary era. She in particular has become
an icon of the Mexican Da de los Muertos.
Originally called La Calavera Garbancera, the etching was created sometime between 1910
and 1913 by Jos Guadalupe Posada as a broadside. The work's fame however comes from
its appearance in the first posthumous edition, which was published from the original plates
in 1930 by Frances Toor, Blas Vanegas Arroyo and Pablo O'Higgins, entitled Mongrafia:
Las Obras de Jos Guadalupe Posada, Grabador Mexicano. Calavera Catrina.
While the original work by Posada introduced the character, the popularity of La Calavera
Catrina as well as her name is derived from a work by artist Diego Rivera in his 1948 work
Sueo de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday afternoon along
Central Alameda).

**Pictured Sueo de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday

afternoon along Central Alameda).
Rivera's mural was painted between the years 1946 and 1947, and is the principal work of
the "Museo Mural Diego Rivera" adjacent to the Alameda in the historic center of Mexico
City. It measures 15 meters long and it stood at the end of Alameda Park. The mural
survived the 1985 earthquake, which destroyed the hotel, and was later moved across the
street to the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, built after the earthquake for that purpose.
Rivera depicts a culmination of 400 years of Mexico's major figures, which include
himself, Posada, and his wife Frida Kahlo. Rivera took inspiration from the original etching
and gave Calavera a body as well as more of an identity in her elegant outfit as she is
poised between himself and Posada. The intent seemed to be to show the tradition of
welcoming and comfort the Mexicans have with death and especially the identity of a lady
of death, harking back to the heritage of the Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl. La Catrina has
come to symbolize not only Da de los Muertos and the Mexican willingness to laugh at
death itself, but originally La Catrina was an elegant or well-dressed woman, so it refers to
rich people. Death brings this neutralizing force; everyone is equal in the end. Sometimes
people have to be reminded of that.

The culture of La Calavera Catrina's has ties to political satire and is also a well-kept
tradition as the original was inspired by the polarizing reign of dictator Porfirio Daz,
whose accomplishments in modernizing and bringing financial stability to Mexico pale
against his government's repression, corruption, extravagance and obsession with all things
European. Concentration of fantastic wealth in the hands of the privileged few brewed
discontent in the hearts of the suffering many, leading to the 1910 rebellion that toppled
Diaz in 1911 and became the Mexican Revolution.
She also symbolizes the contrasts between the upper and lower classes, for times were
cruel. The social classes were extremely segmented and the highest class was the most
fortunate, enjoying many privileges; in contrast, the lower classes were nearly invisible. To
explain and rescue the folklore of worshiping the dead, while showing this off to high
society, Jos Guadalupe Posada made caricatures of Death, one of these drawings being the
famous calavera with an elegant hat, though only representing the head and bust with a
sophisticated and skeletal essence.
What is it with Mexicans and death??

Let's ask Guillermo Del Toro:

Ultimately you walk life side-by-side with death, and the Day of the Dead, curiously
enough, is about life. Its an impulse thats intrinsic to the Mexican character. And when
people ask me, what is so Mexican about your films, I say me. Because Im not a guy that
hides the monster: I show it to you with the absolute conviction that it exists. And thats the
way I think we view death. We dont view it as the end of end all. You say carpe diem in
Dead Poets Society; we have that in a much more tequila-infused, mariachi-soundtrack
kind of way.
The Mexican way of life and death, according to Del Toro, is a legacy of pre-Columbian

times, from Mayan and Aztec cultures that accepted that blood would be spilt in the natural
course of things. It is unnatural to deny effort, adversity and pain, he says. I think we
live in a culture that is actually hedging all of it towards comfort and immediacy, things
that scare me. All the things that they sell us as a way of life scare me.

With that said. Have a nice Dia de Muertos, always remember your departed loved ones.
And laugh and have a drink with La Muerte, after all, she's the one that have to worry about
the tab.

Kuarup The Brazilian Indians Day of the Dead

The Parque Indigena do Xingu, the largest area ever set aside for the
exclusive use of native peoples anywhere in the world, is situated in the
heart of Brazils Mato Grosso State and is about the size of Belgium.
Fifteen different tribes live there. At last count, they added up to
about 5,500 people.
Each tribe has its own unique language, or dialect, and each has its own
ethnology. But there are some belief systems, rituals and ceremonies
which are shared. The greatest of these is the Kuarup (sometimes spelled
Quarup).
Its an event that brings the tribes together, once each year, to honor
their dead. And its one, big party.

The Indians, you see, believe that the spirits of the departed wouldnt
want to see the loved ones theyve left behind unhappy. So the surviving
family members smile and laugh...

...sing and dance...

...play music...

...and practice sports.

They dont mourn. They celebrate renewal and regeneration.

One of the central events is the presentation of the young girls who have
experienced their first menstruation since the previous Kuarup.

Its the Indian equivalent of a debutante ball.

Everyone, not just the girls, puts on their best clothes.

Everyone wears bright colors.

Each of the dead from the previous year is personified by a trunk cut
from the sacred Kamyw tree.

The trunks are decorated for the occasion...

...and placed in front of the burial sites.

The white paint is juice from the jenipampo fruit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genipa_americana
The decorated trunks are referred to as Kuarups. (Hence the name given to
the ceremony.)

Few outsiders have ever witnessed a Kuarup, because the Brazilian

government has always made it extremely difficult to get permission to
visit the Xingu Reservation.
That appears to be changing.
And I don't like it.
To me, its tantamount to gate-crashing a funeral.
Leighton - Monday

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at 12:01 AM
Labels: Brazilian Indians, Kuarup, Quarup, Xingu
8 comments:
1.
Jeffrey SigerDecember 19, 2011 at 7:54 AM
All I can say is, "Wow." Some post.
Reply
2.
Dorte HDecember 23, 2011 at 11:04 AM
A really interesting post.
I dont like gate-crashing at a funeral either. What is most important to me is not
what the government feels about it, however, but what the Xingu want.
Merry Christmas, Leighton!
Reply
3.
AnonymousJanuary 13, 2012 at 7:29 PM
I think you misspelled jenipapo... jenipampo sounds very wrong :)
Reply

4.
Leighton GageJanuary 13, 2012 at 8:57 PM
Thank you Anonymous.
You are, of course, quite right.
Jenipampo not only SOUNDS very wrong, it IS very wrong.
The correct word is jenipapo (genipa americana) and I have no idea how I managed
to misspell it.
Thank you very much for the correction.
Reply
5.
skitalicaApril 17, 2012 at 12:00 AM
amazing post. so, how do you get permission to witness and photograph it?
Reply
Replies
1.
Leighton GageApril 17, 2012 at 10:19 AM
skitilica,
It is discouraged, but you might get permission if you are a working
anthropologist, or have some other academic specialty that is applicable.You
write to the FUNAI, the Brazilian National Indian Foundation, a branch of
the government in Brasilia.
Reply
6.

DDApril 17, 2012 at 12:00 AM

and when is it happening this year?

Reply
Replies
1.
Leighton GageApril 17, 2012 at 10:22 AM
DD:
There is no fixed date. They do one every time the tribe's paje (should have
an accent on the final "e" - and he is their shaman) thinks they should - or
anytime the Indians feel threatened and in need of extra help.
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impact had been on our lives," according to a Honduran blog. "On this day, the dead are
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