Holidays: Mexico
Los Dias de los Muertos, The Days of the Dead

Los Dias de Los Muertos, The Days of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday. Many people in the United States celebrate this holiday because they came from Mexico, or their parents or grandparents came from Mexico.

Let's start by looking at a map of the world that shows the countries where our holidays come from.

Here is a map of Mexico. As you can see, Mexico is just south of the United States.

Find out more about Mexico! http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/about/html/home.html

If you want help with the vocabulary, click on the words in red to find their definition. Or click on My Vocabulary to create your own dictionary.

Who - Mexicans and Mexican Americans celebrate Los Dias de los Muertos.

Catrina, a lady with flowers

What - Los Dias de los Muertos is a holiday when families remember and honor relatives — aunts, uncles, great grandparents — who have the died. It is not a sad time, but instead, one of remembering loved ones. There are parades, decorations and candies to help remember.

This Mexican holiday is a combination of what the Aztec Indians, who first lived in Mexico, believed and what the Spaniards believed when they came to Mexico 400 years ago.

Every fall the Monarch butterflies return to winter in the oyamel fir trees in Mexico. The belief is that the returning butterflies bear the spirits of the departed. This is what the Aztec Indians believed. It is time to honor the dead.

When - The celebration lasts for three days, October 31 through November 2. This is at the same time as Halloween. Halloween is also called All Souls Day and is a Christian holiday. The Spaniards were Christians.

Find out more about the life cycle and migration of the Monarch Butterflies at http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/monarch_butterfly.htm