PRESENTATION OUTLINE
What things are sold at the market specifically for día de los muertos?
- Statues, skulls, pan de muerto, cleveras, flowers for the dead, alcohol.
What is the calavera? What are they made out of?
- Calavera are skulls, they are made from sugar lime juice and egg white.
What is typically written on them? Where is it written & why?
~ Typically it's the name of the person who passed away and is written on the forehead. They do so to show remembrance of the person who passed.
What is Pan de Muerto? What does it represent? What is it made of?
~ Pan de Muerto is a sweet bread that represents the bones of the deceased, it is made of flour, eggs, milk, butter, and yeast. To make it sweet, sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest are often sprinkled on the top.
When do they begin baking pan de muerto and what does the baker put inside?
Pan de muerto is baked a day ahead and the baker places a toy in the middle of the bread.
What happens on a typical celebration for día de los Muertos.
- On día de los Muertos, the spirits of the dead return. Families visit the graves of their ancestors, bring favorite foods and alcohol as offerings to the deceased, and have a picnic lunch. They clean and decorate the grave site and visit with other families. For kids there are cookies for them to eat to show that death is good.
What is the purpose of the calavera, how do they use them in the celebrations an art form?
~ The purpose of the calavera is to be used as an art form.
How are calaveras used as an art form for the celebration?
~ They are normally used for theatrical costumes, and paper mâché.
