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The Mexican Celebration of the Days of the Dead/ Los Dias De Los Muertos
Nancy [email protected]
www.slideshare.net/nwalkup
Are there any artworks, artists, or cultural traditions that you would like to include in your curriculum but have not because of trepidations about sensitive subjects? Can you think of any examples? Kachina dolls and totem poles most likely will come to mind, but, for me, the celebration of Los Dias de los Muertos, the Mexican Days of the Dead, has much personal appeal.
If you have already decided you have no interest in this festivity or believe that your administration would not let you teach about it, please bear with me. Hopefully I can share the true meanings of the celebration and suggest some usable approaches you might want to try in your classroom and school.
The two days of Los Dias de los Muertos, the Mexican Days of the Dead, represent the most important celebration of the year in Mexico, especially in rural areas. Celebrated on the Catholic holy days of November 1, All Saints' Day, and November 2, All Souls' Day, the occasion is a joyful time of remembrance, family reunion, and feasting, as relatives and friends gather together to honor their loved ones who have died. According to tradition, it is believed that the souls of departed children return on November 1 and the souls of the adults visit on November 2. While some people call this fiesta time “Day of the Dead,” the plural form better describes the celebration as it spans several days.
Mexican families save all year to buy the flowers, candles, incense, and special foods needed for the festivities to properly honor their dearly departed. No expense is spared in preparing for the Days of the Dead. Mexican families participate in the construction and decoration of ofrendas (tabletop displays) to honor their loved ones.
Decorations for the ofrenda may include candles, gifts, flowers, incense, papel picado (cut paper banners), photographs, pictures of saints (and often the Virgin of Guadalupe) and offerings of the favorite food and drink of the deceased. Mexican marigolds (called zempascuchitl) and cock’s comb are the flowers most associated with the Days of the Dead. The marigold is particularly pungent in aroma as is the copal incense that is burned on the ofrenda and in the cemetery.
Pan de los Muertos (bread of the dead), candies, and toys are made in the shapes of calavera (skulls and skeletons). The skeleton or skull is seen as a promise of resurrection, not as a symbol of death. Calavera toys and papier-mache skeleton figures depict specific professions, musicians, brides and grooms, bicycle riders, and other subjects from everyday life. There are rich traditions in Mexican folk art that incorporate calveras in many ways. For example, the Linares family of Mexico City is well known for their
fantastic papier-mache calaveras figures.
In preparation for the fiesta, tombs and gravestones in the cemeteries are cleaned, freshly-painted, and elaborately decorated by the members of the community with candles, flowers, breads, fruits, photographs, and other objects. Since the cemeteries are often in or very near a village or town, they are not seen as places separate from the community, but as part of everyday village life.
Though specific practices of the Days of the Dead may vary from village to village, in most communities the entire village holds vigil in the cemetery the nights of the Days of the Dead. Each family maintains a vigil around its graves - graves which are covered with lit candles and flowers, as many as a family can afford. The entire family, from oldest to newborn, each dressed in their best clothing, keeps watch, quietly offering prayers until their candles burn down in the cold night.
Historical and Cultural Background
The origins of Los Dias de los Muertos in Mexico date back long before the arrival of the Conquistadors in the 1500s. Concepts of death and afterlife existed in the Olmec, Toltec, Maya, and Aztec cultures. When the conquering Europeans introduced Christianity to the native cultures, its rituals and practices became synthesized with traditional indigenous beliefs. All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are holy days celebrated in all Catholic countries, and the customs and practices of Los Dias de los Muertos developed from this fusion.
In the United States, misconceptions sometimes arise about Los Dias de los Muertos because of differing cultural attitudes about death, misinterpretation of the meaning of symbolic objects such as skeletons and skulls, and the concurrent dates of the celebration with Halloween. But Los Dias de los Muertos is not in any way somber, morbid, or macabre.
The United States celebration most like Los Dias de los Muertos is Memorial Day, a day in which we also honor the dead (though the focus is on military veterans). Because of the rising rate of immigration to the United States of people from Mexico and Latin America, the Days of the Dead have recently become a way to honor Latino traditions.
In addition, many artists such as Carmen Lomas Garza have spread awareness and popularity of the Days of the Dead through appropriated images and meanings. In many ways, these concepts have also found expression in popular culture. Think of the spontaneous offerings of flowers and objects left in public places to honor and mourn the deaths of loved ones such as traffic accident victims, Vietnam veterans, and celebrities such as Princess Diana, Selena, and John and Carolyn Kennedy.
Making Artist Ofrendas
My favorite classroom method of teaching about the Days of the Dead is through the creation of artist ofrendas. I have found this secular approach helpful to teach students about the Days of the Dead without focusing too much on the religious aspects of the celebration. Other types of memorials could also be discussed, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, and memorials to individuals.
Though traditional ofrendas are usually found at home, in the classroom ofrendas can be created to honor one or more artists (as I do with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera) rather than student's relatives. Because the Days of the Dead celebrations in Mexico usually include some form (candy, food, or toys) of skeletons or skulls, it is important to understand that, in Mexico, the skeleton does not carry the negative meanings promoted by Hollywood. Instead, it simultaneously laughs in the face of death while serving as a reminder that all people, both rich and poor, are equal in death. An ofrenda can certainly be created without any such images if they would be problematic. Each individual teacher must decide what approach is best to respect the sensitivities of his or her students, teachers, and community.
To start, divide students into groups of four to five and assign an artist to each group. Any artist will do, but if you want to use Mexican artists, some to consider are Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Ruffino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueros, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Tina Modotti. Have groups research the artists’ lives, collect or make items to include on their ofrendas, and create artworks and written passages based on the chosen artists.
Use small tables for each ofrenda and have students cover them with fabrics appropriate for the chosen artists. For example, a brightly colored oilcloth would make a great table cover for an ofrenda to Frida Kahlo, but an off-white, sedate linen might be more appropriate for an ofrenda to Leonardo da Vinci. Other possible items for the ofrendas include real or paper flowers, candles (you don't have to light them), photographs or self-portraits of the artist, reproductions of the artist's work, ceramics of different kinds (bowls, candleholders, and picture frames could be made by students), favorite foods, candy, and other items that might be associated with each specific artist. Ofrendas are often completely covered with objects, so encourage students to develop a variety of offerings. Display the completed ofrendas as an educational exhibit with a written explanation of the project and biography/biographies of the artist/s honored.
Summary
An investigation of the annual celebrations and rituals of Los Dias de los Muertos offers an opportunity for understanding the true meaning of this important cultural tradition. Learning about the true meanings of such celebrations as the Days of the Dead promotes cross-cultural understanding of the commonalities shared by all people. For the Mexican people, the celebration marks a reference for life, respect for death, and the philosophical acceptance of the cycles of life. I invite you to explore Los Dias de los Muertos with your students.
Extensions/Interdisciplinary Connections
* Other non-Mexican artists that are fun to do ofrendas about (because their works are so familiar) are Georgia O'Keeffe, Leonardo da Vinci, Grant Wood, or Picasso.
* If you can locate someone who is familiar with the Days of the Dead and/or has a collection of related objects, invite them to speak to your class and/or bring any appropriate items they may have. For example, when I speak to classes, I bring in a small table and a suitcase, then unwrap and assemble an ofrenda while I talk.
* Use strips of white construction paper to make three-dimensional skeleton figures to hang as mobiles. With assorted colors of construction paper, add details to represent specific characters such as cowboys and cowgirls, artists, bicycle riders, football players, skateboarders, or any other figures that can be identified by clothing, hair, and accessories.
* Investigate the political cartoons of Jose Guadalupe Posada and create cartoons with social or political content. Skeletons can be used as the basis for figures, but encourage students to show interaction between figures, dress them in contemporary clothing, and make social comments on human behavior.
* Instead of using artists as the focus of the ofrendas, have students memorialize their pets who have died, bringing in photographs to display on the ofrenda. Include photographs and/or artworks of the dearly departed animals. Many students will have photos of their pets they may want to display on the ofrenda and this approach may be more acceptable to administrators and parents.
Resources
Days of the Dead Prints, 12 pieces from the collection of Nancy Walkup, Crystal Productions, www.crystalproductions.com. Days of the Dead, teachers’ guide and prints, CRIZMAC Art & Cultural Materials, www.crizmac.com.Food for the Ancestors: The Mexican Celebration of the Days of the Dead, video from PBS Home Video.Flickering Lights: Days of the Dead, video, CRIZMAC Art & Cultural Materials, www.crizmac.com.Day of the Dead, children’s book by Tony Johnston and Jeanette Winter, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997.
Enduring Idea: Respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles are common human experiences.
Art Idea: Art can express respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles.
Key Questions
* How do people from different cultures express respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles?* How is respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles expressed in the artifacts and customs in Mexico associated with the Days of the Dead? * What can we learn by exploring the Mexican Days of the Dead?
Unit Objectives
* Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the Mexican Days of the Dead reflect the time, place, and culture in which they were created.* Students will respond to the meaning and value of Days of the Dead artifacts supported with persuasive reasons.* Students will communicate interpretations of Days of the Dead artifacts supported with compelling reasons.* Students will draw upon universal concepts of the human experience to create artist memorials.
Recommended Resources and Materials
Days of the Dead: A Curriculum Resource, Stevie Mack, Amy Metcalfe, with consultant Nancy Walkup, a teacher's guide and art prints, available from CRIZMAC Art and Cultural Educational Materials, inc., 800-913-8555 or http://www.crizmac.com.
Homenaje a Tenochititlan An Installation for the Days of the Dead by Carmen Lomas, videotape available from I. V. Studios/Elizabeth Sher, PO Box 8123, Berkeley, California, 94707-8123, 510-528-8004.
Carmen Lomas Garza’s web site, http://www.carmenlomasgarza.com/. A Piece of My Heart/Pedacito de mi Corazon: The Art of Carmen Lomas Garza,
New York: The New Press, 1991. Making Magic Windows: Creating Papel Picado/Cut Paper Art with Carmen
Lomas Garza, Children’s Book Press. Posters and books by Carmen Lomas Garza are available from MedioDia
Productions, PO Box 140304, Austin, Texas 78714-0304, [email protected]. Mexican Papercutting, Kathleen Trenchard, North Carolina: Lark Press, 1998. Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead, George Ancona, New
York: Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard, 1993. Day of the Dead: A Mexican-American Celebration, Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith,
New York: Holiday House, 1994. Humorous Day of the Dead artifact images (I only use objects that are not the
least bit frightening),found online at The Days of the Dead in Mexico, http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/artcurr/latino/index.htm.
The Days of the Dead in Mexico, http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/artcurr/latino/index.htm.
Reproductions and videos on Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and other artists are available from Crystal Productions, 800-255-8629, www.crystalproductions.com
Carmen Lomas Garza Carmen Lomas Garza, born in 1948, grew up in Kingsville, Texas, a small community not far from the border with Mexico. Ms. Garza, the second of five children, knew from an early age that she wanted to be an artist. Her family, especially her mother, who was also an artist, supported her dream and encouraged her efforts. Her works most often tell stories of traditional family scenes fondly remembered from her childhood.
Ms. Garza's family history is particularly rich with stories of her Spanish and Mexican- American ancestors. Her father's family moved to Texas as a result of the Mexican Revolution and her mother's family included vaqueros (Mexican-American cowboys), railroad workers, and a chuck wagon cook. Many share her heritage, as Mexican-Americans comprise the largest Latino population in the United States today.
Ms. Garza works in a number of media, primarily painting and printmaking, and now resides in San Francisco. She completed art education degrees in Texas universities and a studio art degree in California. In college, Ms. Garza became involved with the Chicano movement, an effort for political reform for Mexican-Americans and others of Latino ancestry. Like many other artists influenced by the Chicano movement, she intends her work to foster cultural identification and pride in others of Latina heritage, present positive images of Latino culture, and encourage the recognition of experiences universal to people of all cultures.
Ms. Garza has her own web site with images and information on ordering resources at http://www.carmenlomasgarza.com/.
The Mexican Celebration of the Days of the Dead/Los Dias de los Muertos
Nancy Walkup
Rationale and Overview of Unit
Los Dias de los Muertos, the Mexican Days of the Dead, are the most important celebrations of the year in Mexico, especially in rural areas. Celebrated on November 1, All Saints' Day, and November 2, All Souls' Day, the occasion is a joyful time of remembrance, family reunion, and feasting, as relatives and friends gather together to honor their loved ones who have died. Los Dias de los Muertos is not in any way somber, morbid, or macabre.
In the United States, misconceptions sometimes arise about Los Dias de los Muertos because of differing cultural attitudes about death, misinterpretation of the meaning of symbolic objects such as skeletons and skulls, and the concurrent dates of the celebration with Halloween. An investigation of the annual celebrations and rituals of Los Dias de los Muertos offers an opportunity for understanding the true meaning of this important cultural tradition. Learning about the meanings of such celebrations as the Days of the Dead promotes cross-cultural understanding of the commonalities shared by all people. A reference for life, respect for death, and the acceptance of the cycles of life.
The United States celebration most like El Dias de los Muertos is Memorial Day, a day in which we also honor the dead (though we may focus more on military veterans). In the United States, the Days of the Dead have also become a way to honor Latino traditions. In addition, many American artists have spread awareness and popularity of the Days of the Dead through appropriated images and meanings. In many ways, these ideas have spread around the globe. Think of the spontaneous offerings of flowers and objects left in public places to honor and mourn the deaths of Vietnam veterans, and celebrities such as Selena, Princess Diana, and John and Carolyn Kennedy.
Throughout this unit, suggestions will be made to assist the teacher to respect the sensitivities of students, teachers, and the community. For example, the unit proposes the creation of an ofrenda to honor one or more artists who have died (a kind of art history lesson) rather than to student's relatives. Another alternative is to create an ofrenda to students' pets that have died. Many students will have photos of their pets they may want to display on the ofrenda and this approach may be more acceptable to administrators and parents. Though Days of the Dead celebrations in Mexico usually include some form of skeletons or skulls, an ofrenda can certainly be created without any of such images. Each individual teacher must decide what approach is best for his or her school and community.
Enduring Idea of the Unit: Respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles are common human experiences.
Art Idea: Art can express respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles.
Key Questions
* How do people from different cultures express respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles?* How is respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles expressed in the artifacts and customs in Mexico associated with the Days of the Dead? * What can we learn by exploring the Mexican Days of the Dead?
Unit Objectives
* Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the Mexican Days of the Dead reflect the time, place, and culture in which they were created.* Students will respond to the meaning and value of Days of the Dead artifacts supported with persuasive reasons.* Students will communicate interpretations of Days of the Dead artifacts supported with compelling reasons.* Students will draw upon universal concepts of the human experience to create artist memorials.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Objectives, Art, 5th Grade
5.1 Perception. The student develops and organizes ideas from the environment.5.2 Creative Expression. The student expresses ideas through original artworks, using a variety of media with appropriate skills.5.3 Historical/Cultural Heritage. The student demonstrates an understanding of art history and culture as records of human achievement.5.4 Response/Evaluation. The student makes informed judgments about personal artworks and the artworks of others.
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Objectives, Reading, 5th Grade
1. The student will determine the meaning of words in a variety of written texts.2. The student will identify supporting ideas in a variety of written texts.3. The student will summarize a variety of written texts.4. The student will perceive relationships and recognize outcomes in a variety of written texts.5. The student will analyze visual information in order to make inferences and generalizations. 6. The student will recognize points of view, propaganda, and/or statements of fact and opinion.
Overview of Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Days of the Dead and the OfrendaLesson 2: Papel PicadoLesson 3: Papier Mache figures
Lesson 4: Clay frames or candleholders
Resources and Materials for the Unit
Reproductions and Teacher Guide* Days of the Dead, Stevie Mack, Amy Metcalfe, and Nancy Walkup, teacher's guide and art prints, available from CRIZMAC Art and Cultural Educational Materials, inc., 800-913-8555 or http://www.crizmaccom
Videotapes* Carmen Lomas Garza, available from her sister* Day of the Dead in Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio, Texas
Publications * Making Magic Windows, book on Mexican papercutting by Carmen Lomas Garza, available from CRIZMAC* Mexican Papercutting, Kathleen Trenchard, book available from CRIZMAC* A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead, Nancy Luenn and Robert Chapman, available from CRIZMAC* Day of the Dead, Tony Johnston and Jeanette Winter, available from CRIZMAC* Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead, George Ancona, New York: Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard, 1993* Day of the Dead: A Mexican American Celebration, Diane hoyt-Goldsmith, New York: Holiday House, 1994.
Web Sites* The Days of the Dead in Mexico http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/artcurr/latino/index.htm
Other* Papel picado plastic banners, available from CRIZMAC* Sugar Skull Classroom Kit, available from CRIZMAC (optional)
Handouts* Student reading, Lesson 1
Audiovisual Equipment* TV and VCR* Overhead projector
Consumable Materials* Colored tissue paper, assorted colors* Glue sticks* White kite string* Scissors
Vocabulary
memorialofrendacalaverapan de muertospapel picadozempascuchitl (sem pa skoo cheetl)
Unit Assessment Rubric
objectives
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Days of the Dead
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
Correlated State Standards
Materials and Resources
* Days of the Dead, Stevie Mack, Amy Metcalfe, and Nancy Walkup, teacher's guide and art prints, available from CRIZMAC Art and Cultural Educational Materials, inc., 800-913-8555 or http://www.crizmaccom* Reproductions of artworks by Mexican artists, available from Crystal Productions and other sources, especially Diego Rivera's Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park* humorous Day of the Dead artifacts, if available USE OBJECTS THAT ARE NOT THE LEAST BIT FRIGHTENING* Days of the Dead video, available from CRIZMAC or from PBS* Map of U.S. and Mexico
Planning and Preparation
Become familiar with the Background Information for the Teacher. Decide if you want an entire class to create one ofrenda, or if you want to divide students into smaller groups to each create one. Choose an artist or artists. Any artist will do, but if you want to use Mexican artists, some to consider are Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Ruffino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueros, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Tina Modotti. Find a small table or desk and an embroidered or oilcloth tablecloth that will fit it with some overlap. Look for self-portraits and other works by the chosen artists in postcard form. Other objects that might be collected for the ofrenda include bowls and other ceramics, candles and candle holders, vases, wrapped candy, and paper flowers.
Background Information for Teachers
The Days of the Dead, Los Dias de los Muertos, are the most important annual celebration in Mexico. November 1st and 2nd are a joyful time of remembrance, reunion, and feasting, as families gather together to honor their loved ones who have died. In the United States, misconceptions sometimes arise about the Days of the Dead because of differing cultural attitudes about death, misinterpretation of the meaning of symbolic object such as altars, skeletons, and skulls, and the concurrent dates of the celebration of Halloween. For Mexicans the skeleton does not carry the negative meanings promoted by Hollywood; instead, it both laughs in the face of death and serves as a reminder that all are equal in death, both rich and poor.
Mexican families participate in the construction and decorations of ofrendas (home altars) to honor their loved ones. Special toys and food are made in the shapes of calaveras (skeletons) for this holiday. Decorations may include candles, flowers, incense, papel picado (cut paper banners, photographs, and offerings of the favorite food and drink of the deceased. As a class project, ofrendas can be created to honor a special person, such as an artist, who is no longer living. Such a secular approach may be helpful to teach students about the Days of the Dead without focusing too much on the religious aspects of the celebration. Other types of memorials could be discussed, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, and memorials to individuals.
Historical and Cultural BackgroundThe origins of Los Dias de los Muertos in Mexico date back long before the arrival of the Conquistadors in the 1500s. Concepts of death and afterlife existed in the Olmec, Toltec, Maya, and Aztec cultures. When the conquering Europeans introduced Christianity to the native cultures, its rituals and practices became synthesized with traditional indigenous beliefs. All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are holy days celebrated in all Catholic countries, and the customs and practices of Los Dias de los Muertos developed from this fusion.
In Mexican culture there is a philosophical acceptance of death as an integral part of the cycle of life. During Los Dias de los Muertos, people believe that the souls of the dead return to earth for one day of the year - the spirits of los angelitos (children) on All Saint's Day and the spirits of adults on All Soul's Day.
Preparations No expense is spared in preparing for Los Dias de los Muertos. Families participate in the construction and decoration of ofrendas (home altars) to honor loved ones. Decorations may include candles, gifts, flowers, papel picado (cut paper banners), pictures of saints, and photographs and offerings of the favorite food and drink of the deceased. Tombs and gravestones in the cemeteries are cleaned and freshly-painted.
Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead), candies, and toys are made in the shapes of calavera (skulls and skeletons). The skeleton or skull is seen as a promise of resurrection, not as a symbol of death. Calavera toys and papier-mache figures modern dress. Popular skeleton figures depict specific profession, musicians, brides and grooms, bicycle riders, and other subjects from everyday life. There are rich traditions in folk art that incorporate calveras in many ways. For example, the Linares family of Mexico City is well known for their fantastic papier-mache calaveras figures.
Vocabulary
calaveraofrendapan de muertospapel picadozempascuchitl (sem pa skoo cheetl)
Body of the Lesson
Display the prints from the CRIZMAC Days of the Dead instructional kit and discuss. EXTENDUSE STUDENT READING
Begin by asking: What is a memorial? Can you name any? (Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, etc.) What do we celebrate on Memorial Day? (military veterans primarily) Are there people in your family that you love who have died? How do you honor their memory? How do you celebrate their lives? Do you ever visit the cemetery on special days?
Explain that the Mexican culture looks upon death as a natural part of the cycles of life and that it is very important in much of Mexico to annually celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died. This celebration takes place every November 1 and 2 and it is called the Days of the Dead (or you can call it the Days of the Dearly Departed). On the map, have a student point out the location of Mexico and the U.S. Display and discuss prints or actual objects from the Days of the Dead. Encourage students to ask questions and write them down for later reference. Show part or all of the video if possible.
Assign students to groups of four or five students and assign each group an artist. The students will work in these groups to make ofrendas. Tell them they will be making tissue paper banners called papel picado, crepe paper marigolds (flowers) and calaveras (poems about the artists) over a number of days.
Creating an OfrendaHave students research the artist's life, collect items to include on the ofrenda, and create artworks and
written passages based on the chosen artist. Use a small table for the ofrenda and cover it with a fabric appropriate for the chosen artist. For example, a brightly colored oil cloth would make a great table cover for an ofrenda to Frida Kahlo, but an off-white, sedate linen might be more appropriate for an ofrenda to Leonardo da Vinci.
Other Possible Items for the OfrendaAgain, make choices that express the chosen artist. Flowers, candles (you don't have to light them), photographs or self-portraits of the artist, reproductions of the artist's work, favorite foods, and other items that might be associated with the artist may be placed on the ofrenda. Ofrendas are often completely covered with objects, so encourage students to develop a variety of offerings.
The Celebration of the Days of the Dearly Departed/Celebration de los Dias de los Muertos
Nancy Walkup
Rationale and Overview of Unit
Los Dias de los Muertos, the Mexican Days of the Dead, are the most important celebrations of the year in Mexico, especially in rural areas. Celebrated on November 1, All Saints' Day, and November 2, All Souls' Day, the occasion is a joyful time of remembrance, family reunion, and feasting, as relatives and friends gather together to honor their loved ones who have died. Los Dias de los Muertos is not in any way somber, morbid, or macabre.
In the United States, misconceptions sometimes arise about Los Dias de los Muertos because of differing cultural attitudes about death, misinterpretation of the meaning of symbolic objects such as skeletons and skulls, and the concurrent dates of the celebration with Halloween. An investigation of the annual celebrations and rituals of Los Dias de los Muertos offers an opportunity for understanding the true meaning of this important cultural tradition. Learning about the meanings of such celebrations as the Days of the Dead promotes cross-cultural understanding of the commonalities shared by all people. A reference for life, respect for death, and the acceptance of the cycles of life.
The United States celebration most like El Dias de los Muertos is Memorial Day, a day in which we also honor the dead (though we may focus more on military veterans). In the United States, the Days of the Dead have also become a way to honor Latino traditions. In addition, many American artists have spread awareness and popularity of the Days of the Dead through appropriated images and meanings. In many ways, these ideas have spread around the globe. Think of the spontaneous offerings of flowers and objects left in public places to honor and mourn the deaths of Vietnam veterans, and celebrities such as Selena, Princess Diana, and John and Carolyn Kennedy.
Throughout this unit, suggestions will be made to assist the teacher to respect the sensitivities of students, teachers, and the community. For example, the unit proposes the creation of an ofrenda to honor one or more artists who have died (a kind of art history lesson) rather than to student's relatives. Another alternative is to create an ofrenda to students' pets that have died. Many students will have photos of their pets they may want to display on the ofrenda and this approach may be more acceptable to administrators and parents. Though Days of the Dead celebrations in Mexico usually include some form of skeletons or skulls, an ofrenda can certainly be created without any of such images. Each individual teacher must decide what approach is best for his or her school and community.
Enduring Idea of the Unit: Respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles are common human experiences.
Art Idea: Art can express respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles.
Key Questions
* How do people from different cultures express respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles?* How is respect and honor for the dead and an appreciation of life's cycles expressed in the artifacts and customs in Mexico associated with the Days of the Dead? * What can we learn by exploring the Mexican Days of the Dead?
Unit Objectives
* Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the Mexican Days of the Dead reflect the time, place, and culture in which they were created.* Students will respond to the meaning and value of Days of the Dead artifacts supported with persuasive reasons.* Students will communicate interpretations of Days of the Dead artifacts supported with compelling reasons.* Students will draw upon universal concepts of the human experience to create artist memorials.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Objectives, Art, 5th Grade
5.1 Perception. The student develops and organizes ideas from the environment.5.2 Creative Expression. The student expresses ideas through original artworks, using a variety of media with appropriate skills.5.3 Historical/Cultural Heritage. The student demonstrates an understanding of art history and culture as records of human achievement.5.4 Response/Evaluation. The student makes informed judgments about personal artworks and the artworks of others.
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Objectives, Reading, 5th Grade
1. The student will determine the meaning of words in a variety of written texts.2. The student will identify supporting ideas in a variety of written texts.3. The student will summarize a variety of written texts.4. The student will perceive relationships and recognize outcomes in a variety of written texts.5. The student will analyze visual information in order to make inferences and generalizations. 6. The student will recognize points of view, propaganda, and/or statements of fact and opinion.
Overview of Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Days of the Dead and the OfrendaLesson 2: Papel PicadoLesson 3: Papier Mache figuresLesson 4: Clay frames or candleholders
Resources and Materials for the Unit
Reproductions and Teacher Guide* Days of the Dead, Stevie Mack, Amy Metcalfe, and Nancy Walkup, teacher's guide and art prints, available from CRIZMAC Art and Cultural Educational Materials, inc., 800-913-8555 or http://www.crizmaccom
Videotapes* Carmen Lomas Garza, available from her sister* Day of the Dead in Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio, Texas
Publications * Making Magic Windows, book on Mexican papercutting by Carmen Lomas Garza, available from CRIZMAC
* Mexican Papercutting, Kathleen Trenchard, book available from CRIZMAC* A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead, Nancy Luenn and Robert Chapman, available from CRIZMAC* Day of the Dead, Tony Johnston and Jeanette Winter, available from CRIZMAC* Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead, George Ancona, New York: Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard, 1993* Day of the Dead: A Mexican American Celebration, Diane hoyt-Goldsmith, New York: Holiday House, 1994.
Web Sites* The Days of the Dead in Mexico http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/artcurr/latino/index.htm
Other* Papel picado plastic banners, available from CRIZMAC* Sugar Skull Classroom Kit, available from CRIZMAC (optional)
Handouts* Student reading, Lesson 1
Audiovisual Equipment* TV and VCR* Overhead projector
Consumable Materials* Colored tissue paper, assorted colors* Glue sticks* White kite string* Scissors
Vocabulary
memorialofrendacalaverapan de muertospapel picadozempascuchitl (sem pa skoo cheetl)
Unit Assessment Rubric
objectives
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Days of the Dead
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
Correlated State Standards
Materials and Resources
* Days of the Dead, Stevie Mack, Amy Metcalfe, and Nancy Walkup, teacher's guide and art prints,
available from CRIZMAC Art and Cultural Educational Materials, inc., 800-913-8555 or http://www.crizmaccom* Reproductions of artworks by Mexican artists, available from Crystal Productions and other sources, especially Diego Rivera's Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park* humorous Day of the Dead artifacts, if available USE OBJECTS THAT ARE NOT THE LEAST BIT FRIGHTENING* Days of the Dead video, available from CRIZMAC or from PBS* Map of U.S. and Mexico
Planning and Preparation
Become familiar with the Background Information for the Teacher. Decide if you want an entire class to create one ofrenda, or if you want to divide students into smaller groups to each create one. Choose an artist or artists. Any artist will do, but if you want to use Mexican artists, some to consider are Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Ruffino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueros, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Tina Modotti. Find a small table or desk and an embroidered or oilcloth tablecloth that will fit it with some overlap. Look for self-portraits and other works by the chosen artists in postcard form. Other objects that might be collected for the ofrenda include bowls and other ceramics, candles and candle holders, vases, wrapped candy, and paper flowers.
Background Information for Teachers
The Days of the Dead, Los Dias de los Muertos, are the most important annual celebration in Mexico. November 1st and 2nd are a joyful time of remembrance, reunion, and feasting, as families gather together to honor their loved ones who have died. In the United States, misconceptions sometimes arise about the Days of the Dead because of differing cultural attitudes about death, misinterpretation of the meaning of symbolic object such as altars, skeletons, and skulls, and the concurrent dates of the celebration of Halloween. For Mexicans the skeleton does not carry the negative meanings promoted by Hollywood; instead, it both laughs in the face of death and serves as a reminder that all are equal in death, both rich and poor.
Mexican families participate in the construction and decorations of ofrendas (home altars) to honor their loved ones. Special toys and food are made in the shapes of calaveras (skeletons) for this holiday. Decorations may include candles, flowers, incense, papel picado (cut paper banners, photographs, and offerings of the favorite food and drink of the deceased. As a class project, ofrendas can be created to honor a special person, such as an artist, who is no longer living. Such a secular approach may be helpful to teach students about the Days of the Dead without focusing too much on the religious aspects of the celebration. Other types of memorials could be discussed, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, and memorials to individuals.
Historical and Cultural BackgroundThe origins of Los Dias de los Muertos in Mexico date back long before the arrival of the Conquistadors in the 1500s. Concepts of death and afterlife existed in the Olmec, Toltec, Maya, and Aztec cultures. When the conquering Europeans introduced Christianity to the native cultures, its rituals and practices became synthesized with traditional indigenous beliefs. All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are holy days celebrated in all Catholic countries, and the customs and practices of Los Dias de los Muertos developed from this fusion.
In Mexican culture there is a philosophical acceptance of death as an integral part of the cycle of life. During Los Dias de los Muertos, people believe that the souls of the dead return to earth for one day of the year - the spirits of los angelitos (children) on All Saint's Day and the spirits of adults on All Soul's Day.
Preparations No expense is spared in preparing for Los Dias de los Muertos. Families participate in the construction and decoration of ofrendas (home altars) to honor loved ones. Decorations may include candles, gifts, flowers, papel picado (cut paper banners), pictures of saints, and photographs and offerings of the favorite food and
drink of the deceased. Tombs and gravestones in the cemeteries are cleaned and freshly-painted.
Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead), candies, and toys are made in the shapes of calavera (skulls and skeletons). The skeleton or skull is seen as a promise of resurrection, not as a symbol of death. Calavera toys and papier-mache figures modern dress. Popular skeleton figures depict specific profession, musicians, brides and grooms, bicycle riders, and other subjects from everyday life. There are rich traditions in folk art that incorporate calveras in many ways. For example, the Linares family of Mexico City is well known for their fantastic papier-mache calaveras figures.
Vocabulary
calaveraofrendapan de muertospapel picadozempascuchitl (sem pa skoo cheetl)
Body of the Lesson
Display the prints from the CRIZMAC Days of the Dead instructional kit and discuss. EXTENDUSE STUDENT READING
Begin by asking: What is a memorial? Can you name any? (Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, etc.) What do we celebrate on Memorial Day? (military veterans primarily) Are there people in your family that you love who have died? How do you honor their memory? How do you celebrate their lives? Do you ever visit the cemetery on special days?
Explain that the Mexican culture looks upon death as a natural part of the cycles of life and that it is very important in much of Mexico to annually celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died. This celebration takes place every November 1 and 2 and it is called the Days of the Dead (or you can call it the Days of the Dearly Departed). On the map, have a student point out the location of Mexico and the U.S. Display and discuss prints or actual objects from the Days of the Dead. Encourage students to ask questions and write them down for later reference. Show part or all of the video if possible.
Assign students to groups of four or five students and assign each group an artist. The students will work in these groups to make ofrendas. Tell them they will be making tissue paper banners called papel picado, crepe paper marigolds (flowers) and calaveras (poems about the artists) over a number of days.
Creating an OfrendaHave students research the artist's life, collect items to include on the ofrenda, and create artworks and written passages based on the chosen artist. Use a small table for the ofrenda and cover it with a fabric appropriate for the chosen artist. For example, a brightly colored oil cloth would make a great table cover for an ofrenda to Frida Kahlo, but an off-white, sedate linen might be more appropriate for an ofrenda to Leonardo da Vinci.
Other Possible Items for the OfrendaAgain, make choices that express the chosen artist. Flowers, candles (you don't have to light them), photographs or self-portraits of the artist, reproductions of the artist's work, favorite foods, and other items that might be associated with the artist may be placed on the ofrenda. Ofrendas are often completely covered with objects, so encourage students to develop a variety of offerings.
MOVE TO SEPARATE LESSONS?
MAKE TISSUE PAPER MARIGOLD GARLANDSWRITE CALAVERAS ABOUT ASSIGNED ARTISTMAKE ONE PAGE BIOGRAPHIES OF ARTISTS CHOSEN
MAKE PAPEL PICADO
Summary and Closure
Display the completed ofrenda as an educational exhibit with a written explanation of the project and biography/biographies of the artist/s honored. The following lessons suggest other items students can make to further decorate the ofrenda.
Assessment
Extensions/Interdisciplinary Connections
* Other non-Mexican artists that are fun to do ofrendas about (because their works are so familiar) are Georgia O'Keeffe, Leonardo da Vinci, Grant Wood, or Picasso. * If you can locate someone who is familiar with the Days of the Dead and/or has a collection of related objects, invite them to speak to your class and/or bring any appropriate items they may have. For example, when I speak to classes, I bring in a small table and a woven suitcase, then unwrap and assemble an ofrenda while I talk.* Use strips of white construction paper to make three-dimensional skeleton figures to hang as mobiles. With assorted colors of construction paper, add details to represent specific characters such as cowboys and cowgirls, artists, bicycle riders, football players, skateboarders, or any other figures that can be identified by clothing, hair, and accessories.* Investigate the political cartoons of Jose Guadalupe Posada and create cartoons with social or political content. Skeletons can be used as the basis for figures, but encourage students to show interaction between figures, dress them in contemporary clothing, and make social comments on human behavior.* Instead of using artists as the focus of the ofrendas, have students memorialize their pets who have died, bringing in photographs to display on the ofrenda.* Have students make papier mache humorous skull masks or skeletons and write and perform a skit using them.
calavera
ofrenda
pan de muertos
papel picado
zempascuchitl/marigolds
Student Reading
The Days of the Dead/Los Dias de los Muertos
The Days of the Dead, Los Dias de los Muertos, are the most important celebration of the year in Mexico. November 1st and 2nd are a joyful time of remembrance, family reunion, and feasting, as relatives and friends gather together to honor their loved ones who have died. The United States celebration most like El Dias de los Muertos is Memorial Day, a day in which we also honor the dead.
In the United States, misconceptions sometimes arise about the Days of the Dead because of differing cultural attitudes about death, misinterpretation of the meaning of symbolic objects such as skeletons and skulls and the concurrent dates of the celebration with Halloween. In Mexican culture there is a philosophical acceptance of death as an integral part of the cycle of life. For Mexicans the skeleton does not carry the negative meanings promoted by Hollywood; instead, it both laughs in the face of death and serves as a reminder that all are equal in death, both rich and poor.
For this celebration, Mexican families participate in the construction and decorations of ofrendas (tabletop displays) to honor their loved ones. Special toys and food are made in the shapes of calaveras (skeletons) for this holiday. Decorations may include candles, flowers, incense, papel picado (cut paper banners), photographs, and offerings of the favorite food and drink of the deceased.
Student Reading
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was born of European and Mexican descent in 1907 in the Mexico City suburb of Coyoacan, in the blue stucco house where she died 47 years later. She was exceptionally striking; her long dark hair and distinctive bird-wing brows arching over magnetic black eyes reflected her vibrant and adventurous nature. In 1925, at the age of 18, she was in a bus accident that injured her spine, pelvis, and foot, injuries that led to many hospital stays, operations, and, ultimately, her death. In many ways, her art is a chronicle of her personal pain and strength in the face of endless medical problems.
Most of Kahlo's work - painted on canvas, wooden boards, and tin - depicts her personal story; perhaps most riveting are the artist's many self-portraits. In them, Kahlo often portrays herself in native Mexican dress, surrounded by her many pets and the lush vegetation of her homeland, her forehead or body imprinted with the people and events central to her life. Always intense and sometimes realistic or fantastic, her works show that her art and life were inseparable, fierce, timeless, and tragic.
Multicultural Art Print Series, Women Artists of the Americas,Self- Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky, Frida Kahlo
Student Reading
Diego Rivera
The Mexican artist Diego Rivera was a giant of a man who has a reputation for boisterous behavior, wild exaggeration and who antagonized nearly everyone around him. He was also an artist of extraordinary talent, called "Mexico's national treasure" by her president.
Rivera was born in 1886 and, even as a little boy, he astonished everyone with his artistic ability. Between 1913 and 1917, Rivera produced over 200 Cubist-style paintings, but he abandoned the style to follow his heart: painting from life in a realistic manner. He became increasingly sensitive to the plight of the poor
and workers around the world. He wanted his art to give them hope and direction and his themes became increasingly political. His fame and reputation spread and he was invited to the United States, along with his third wife, Frida Kahlo, a fellow Mexican brilliant and controversial artist. He painted murals in several American cities, but his themes and subjects were constantly attacked and public outrage followed him everywhere. Rivera and Frida returned to their lives and work in Mexico. Rivera died in his studio in 1957.
Take 5 art prints, Urban Environments, Diego Rivera, Detroit Industry, Consultant Lauren Marks
Lesson 2
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
Correlated State Standards
Materials and Resources
Planning and Preparation
Background Information for Teachers
Colorful paper banners, called papel picado (Spanish for "perforated paper"), can be found hanging above the streets during any Mexican fiesta or celebration. Usually made of tissue paper but sometimes of more durable plastic, the cut banners are hung together like a string of flags. For the Days of the Dead, the cut designs feature skeletons, skulls, crosses, and tombstones. Some artists create intricate designs that take many hours to make. Because of their fragility and the time spent creating them, cut paper banners are themselves symbols of the transitory quality of life.
Days of the Dead, CRIZMAC Art and Cultural Education Materials, Inc., p. 14
VocabularyBody of the LessonSummary and ClosureExtensions/Interdisciplinary Connections
Lesson TitleLesson OverviewLesson ObjectivesCorrelated State StandardsMaterials and ResourcesPlanning and PreparationBackground Information for TeachersVocabularyBody of the LessonSummary and ClosureExtensions/Interdisciplinary Connections
Lesson TitleLesson OverviewLesson ObjectivesCorrelated State StandardsMaterials and ResourcesPlanning and PreparationBackground Information for TeachersVocabularyBody of the LessonSummary and ClosureExtensions/Interdisciplinary Connections
