Day Of The Dead Research Paper

The Day of the Dead and Halloween are alike in many ways. During the Day of the Dead, people dress in costumes and celebrate their dead loved ones returning to them. Similarly, on Halloween, people also dress in costumes and go “Trick or Treating”. Both holidays also come from Catholic roots, and believe the veil between the living and dead worlds is thinnest on these days. During the Day of the Dead celebrations, people cook, eat, and have a party, similar to what others do on Halloween.

The first day, called “Día de los Angelitos” (Day of the Little Angels), is dedicated to the souls of deceased children, while November 2nd is set aside for the souls of adults. In preparation for these days, families may clean their homes to welcome the arrival of the souls of their loved ones. Many people also visit cemeteries to decorate the graves of the dead with their favorite items and flowers. Graves and ofrendas are decorated with papel picado, photographs, cherished objects, marigolds (cempasúchitl), and skeletons made of paper or clay. Food and drink are placed on the ofrendas for the dead – people commonly believe that they can still enjoy the tastes and smells. There are many important foods associated with Day of the Dead. The main dish is typically mole, which consists of meat (usually chicken or pork) cooked with a sauce made from chilies, chocolate, peanuts, and other ingredients that vary by region. Pumpkin candies, rice pudding, and tamales may also be offered. Bakeries produce special bread called pan de muerto (bread of the dead) in the shape of people or bones, decorated with pink or colorful sugar. Candy stores also sell skulls made of sugar or chocolate, adorned with names, for both children and adults to

However, there is a distinct difference between the two holidays. In America, Halloween has shifted from focusing on death to focusing on trick-or-treating. The Day of the Dead celebrates the fact that death does not destroy the unity between those alive and those dead. While both celebrate with dressing up, eating with loved ones, and spending time with family, they gather for vey different reasons. In keeping with their culture, Americans celebrate being with those still alive, while Mexicans include deceased individuals in their

Halloween and Day of the Dead, despite their similarities, are very different. They are similar because they both have sugary treats and they are different because they are celebrated in different ways, and the preparation of the holidays are different. Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico, and Central America where people celebrate their ancestors souls and bring them some of their favorite things to their graves and throw many parties. Halloween is a day when children go out in costumes to trick-or-treat for candies and other sugary items, people also setup decorations outside their houses that look go along with the holiday.

I’m the first generation of my family to be Mexican -American, but I have been introduced to the Mexican culture since I was born. I appreciate the difficulties my parents have faced to make me the person that I am today even though I wasn’t born in Mexico my parents have taught me the language and the culture which I’m so proud of being part of. For others being Hispanic is actually being born in any Latin American countries which is not true at all. Being Hispanic is much more than my cultural background it actually describes how much I appreciate my culture and how I get to experience things other people don’t. I fit into the Hispanic community through the experiencing the culture first hand ,participating in traditions and planning to include my culture in my future.

They also celebrate the people that came after and helped combine cultures and races, but also the cultures of the natives before the Europeans came. This holiday is also used to proclaim the Hispanic Heritage of Latin America. It is celebrated in many countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Uruguay. Dia de la Raza helps bring together many Spanish speaking people, and even cultures. Some ways this holiday is celebrated is with parades, traditional dances, and feasts. Many people think that Dia de la Raza is better than Columbus Day, because many people in the Spanish culture think that Christopher Columbus shouldn’t be praised for his “barbaric” actions. This is why in Spanish speaking countries that celebrate October 12, they celebrate Dia de la Raza.

Nowadays, many people wear items of clothing decorated with sugar skulls or skeleton prints, such as shirts, dresses, or leggings on Día de los Muertos. You can also wear shells and dance so that the noisiness "wakes up" the dead or even dress up as the deceased.

To many people skulls represent death and negativity however, for Mexicans that celebrate Day of the Dead sugar skulls represent death in a positive manner. In Mexico it is believed that death is not the final stage in life but rather a step forward onto a higher level of consciousness. This is similar to the beliefs of the Aztecs. The Aztec skulls were a positive symbol, not only of death but also of rebirth. The symbolism of sugar skulls is rooted in the decoration around the eyes. Life is symbolized by flowers, while death is symbolized by cob webs. Burning candles are also set inside the eyes as a sign of remembrance.

Growing up I celebrated the Fourth of July with fireworks, and the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe with matlachines. Celebrating holidays from both countries, each with their own special traditions, I was able to become more appreciative of where my roots lie. From the U.S. national anthem, to the beautiful folklorico dances of Mexico, I am fascinated with the blended culture I

Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico that has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in both the United States and Mexico. The histories of Mexico and the United States are not two separate history. Cinco de Mayo is a confusing holiday for many people in the United States. It is not about Mexican Independence Day. Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain, which is actually the 16th of September. It commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war. Cinco de Mayo has been celebrated across the United States and Mexico, but more in the United States with the traditions of parades, mariachi music performers and street festivals.

There are many differences between el Día de los muertos and Halloween. One of these differences being the mood of the holiday. Halloween is dark and scary holiday, while el Día de los muertos is a joyful holiday. During el Día de los muertos, families buy foods to honor their lost loved ones. During halloween in contrast, candy is handed out to kids. Finally, el Día de los muertos is much more spiritual than halloween. El Día de los muertos is a time for people to pray and honor their dead family members and friends, while halloween has no spiritual or religious importance.

Mexican traditions have a huge impact on my life in many ways.My mom and dad have always wanted to go to mexico and celebrate Carnaval and see the beautiful fireworks explode in the night.Carnaval is a celebration of prior to fasting season of Lent.Carnaval is celebrated for about 3 to 4 days.The celebration is a public event with all kinds of floats,vibrant colors and costumes.with no doubt this celebration is a very incredible and unique mexican holiday another tradition is Semana Santa(the week of Easter).Semana Santa is a celebration of the annual tribute of the Passion of Jesus Christ.The mexicans perform a dance on the streets and pray to god.Semana santa is celebrated on spring break.My favorite tradition to celebrate is El Día de los Muertos (Day of the

The Latin Kings are one of the most violent street gangs along with both the Bloods and the Crips. The Latin Kings originally were founded in the 1940's by a small group of Hispanics in the Chicago, Illinois area. They founded this gang to help the Hispanic community achieve a better way of life by preserving the Hispanic culture and promoting education. Unfortunately, the Latin Kings slowly started evolving as a criminal group and started spreading to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California. The Latin Kings use specific colors to identify themselves with other gangs, they have three commemorate days throughout the year, and have a specific religion.

The Day of the Dead is a two day celebration that honors deceased loved ones. The two day celebration starts on November first and ends on November second. The first day of the Day of the Dead is dedicated to the deceased children. While on the second day, the deceased adults are honored and remembered. Carnival takes place in February. Carnival is celebrated for a few days, but the climax is on Carnival Tuesday and then ends on Ash Wednesday. “Holy week is

The mortuary feasts is ceremonial that honoring the spirit of the deceased and other ancestor spirits, at which these goods are given to heirs of the deceased in acts of public, ritual generosity. With the help of enchantment and custom, Vanatinai people amass awesome amounts of stylized assets, pigs, privately made family products, and sustenances, for example, yam and sago starch so as to host a years long arrangement of elaborate morgue feasts. The feast is a way for the Vanatinai people to communicate with the ancestor spirits. The assets exhibited at the zagaya and at all previous mortuary feast events, including the funeral, are trades between the living and dead. If the feasts is properly done all mourning taboos are clear from individuals