In this Essay, I will enlighten you about the “Dia de los Muertos” in the Spanish culture. It will contain the history of the holiday, the events that go on during it, and the food eaten on that day. One thing that you must remember is that Dia de los Muertos traditions vary from town to town because Mexico is not culturally monolithic. El Dia de los Muertos goes back to the Aztecs, who had not just a few days but an entire month dedicated to the dead. When the Spanish conquistadors vanquished the Aztecs, they changed the tradition so it was at the same time of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. El Dia de los Muertos was brought to the United States when Mexican-Americans underwent a cultural reawakening in the early 1970s. The holiday's popularity has since spread to other races and cultures. The Day of the Dead celebrates life past and present and not just death alone. Revelers construct ofrendas, the offerings of food, drinks, cigarettes, toys, and candy, set out for returning souls. Revelers take joy in honoring the dead, usually with music, dancing, crafts and food. The children have many activities also including the decoration of pan de muerto. Kids can also try to throw beanbags into a skeleton's mouth, make cascarones (confetti-filled eggshell wands), or create clay whistles, paper flowers, pinatas or masks. Mexico and other Central American countries to include visits to graveyards, where families decorate the sites of deceased loved ones. I have researched about the traditional foods served, or offered during this holiday. During el Dia de los Muertos the following foods are prepared: pan de los muertos which is bread of the dead (there are over 200 different kinds of breads), mole which is a thick sauce made from a variety of ingredients including chilis, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, chocolate/fruit, atole which is an ancient drink made from corn meal and water flavored with various fruits, alfenique which is a special confection used to fashion skulls, fruits and other figures.
The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.
An ethnography should have a balance between opinion and research. This text had the potential to contribute truth, history, cultural practices and importance, about Dia de los Muertos. The information, poetry, and stories presented, where them selves, beautiful; however, the tone and language used, clouded and distracted from the purpose and content. A balance between personal ideas and what the cultural practice is, without personal bias would have transcended the message of the ethnography, and made it about the practice it self, not the authors feelings on the
School children also often get a chance to try their hands at creating basic Mexican cuisine. In some areas of the southwest, particularly in the city of Los Angeles, celebrations of regional Mexican dancing and music are held. However, regardless of the area of celebration, one could almost certainly find mariachi band filled restaurants, outdoor festivities, and social gatherings with large amounts of Dos Equis and Corona beer for the adults. Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a day that focuses on celebrating Mexican heritage and the Mexican way of life, but still pays homage to the battle that gave way to Mexico’s independence. Whether one is dancing in a large parade, or simply bonding with loved ones, it is important to always recognize the true purpose of Cinco de Mayo, and to remember and thank those who helped secure Mexico’s freedom so many years ago.
Las Posadas is a Mexican holiday that is like Christmas for the United States. It was originated in Spain and lasts for nine days. This holiday begins on December sixteenth and ends on December twenty-fourth. This is also a catholic holiday but most people in Mexico celebrate it. This holiday was thought to be started in the sixteenth century by “St. Ignatius of Loyola or Friar Pedro de Gant in Mexico.” In Mexico they have a tradition where they put a candle in a paper lampshade. Then they would take the lampshade with the candle inside it and went outside to sing a song, allowing Joseph and Mary to be recognized and allowed to enter the world. This is still a tradition today but one thing has changed from around when it was started. It, for some people, celebrated it in a church instead of the family’s home. There is a thing that is common for both the United Stated and Mexico. They both sing Christmas carols, they go along to houses or in a church and sing Christmas songs. On these days the children will break piñatas to get the candy and prizes inside. They also so another thing ...
I am going to tell you about a famous, yet kinda eerie celebration that takes place in mexico. This is a tradition celebrated by the Mexican Natives, most Mexican Americans (including myself) don’t even acknowledge this day, unless they happen to be visiting mexico at the time of this event.
I am familiar with both the Mexican culture and the regular American Culture. Those two cultures aren’t alike. Mexicans celebrate different holidays. In American culture, we celebrate 4th of July because of the declaration of independence. But in Mexican culture, we also celebrate Independence Day but on the 16th of September, because we won the war against the Spaniards. Also, in American culture we celebrate the holiday that all kids love, Halloween on October 31st. Halloween is a day to go trick-or-treating and have fun. In Mexico, we celebrate “El Día De Los Muertos “(Day of The Dead) on November 1st. Day of the dead is a day where we remember all the people that have died and that holiday is in honor of them. Mexicans also celebrate “El Día De Los Reyes Magos” also known as “Day Of The Three Wise Men”. This day is celebrated for the day that the three wise men took each 1 gift to the Virgin Mary’s son. Columbus Day is a holiday that is celebrated in both American and Mexican culture. But besides the holidays, Mexican food is different from the all American food that is seen everyday. From pozole, tacos, quesadillas, and so many other foods, the cultures aren’t the same.
The history of this holiday is all about the battle of Puebla. Before the battle Mexico was in an economic crisis. The president at that time was Benito Juarez, he decided to stop the payments on the external debt so that he could handle that internal finical situation in Mexico. Mexico was in serve debt with France, England and Spain. These countries sent a delegation because they didn’t think they were going to get paid back. The president reasoned with Spain and Britain but not the French. The French wanted to take over Mexico so they had other ideas than to reason with them. France at this time was being ruled by Napoleon III. He was the one who wanted to invade France so he could make Mexico an empire. The French army invaded Mexico late in 1861. President Juarez and the government went into hiding because of the French army. The French was certain then that they would win so, they sent in 6,000 of their troops to Puebla de Los Angeles lead by General Charles Latrille de Lorencez. When the President of Mexico heard about tha...
The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo means the fifth of May. It is not an independence day for Mexico like most unknowledgeable people think. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on the 15th of September. Mexico declared independence from Spain on the 24th of August 1821. Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday either. Mexico and the United States savor this holiday because it is the day where Mexican peasants/ commoners defeated the French and Mexican traitor army that double them in size in Puebla, Mexico one hundred miles away from Mexico city on the 5th of May, 1862.
...parts of the celebration, October 31st, November 1st, and finally November 2nd. On October 31st, it is seen that the kid’s souls return. November 1st is considered the adult’s day of returning, and November 2nd is when all souls have returned from the dead and there is a big celebration. People of Mexico celebrate by making many baked goods and cooking meals, making objects such as masks and decorating papers and toy coffins to prepare for the return of the souls.
In the Hispanic culture, The Day of the Dead is a very special holiday celebrated in Hispanic communities. The Day of The Dead is a celebration that last two days. It occurs on November 1 and 2. On November 1, they have a celebration for the young. On November 2, they give honor to family members who have passed away. Traditionally they set up alters in their homes with pictures, candles, foods, and many other decorations. They believe this holiday connects them to their dead ancestors and allows the spirits to be welcomed back. It is one of the biggest celebrations in Hispanic communities and is a very meaningful celebration. One of the specific holidays that is celebrated in the US is called Martian Luther King Jr. Day. This day is in honor of Martian Luther King Jr. and his fight for civil rights. His actions have had a huge impact on America and has become a role model for not only African Americans, but for everyone. He died for fighting for what was right and is honored on this day only in America. Both the Hispanic and US cultures have their own specific holidays only celebrated in these
Dia de los Muertos is a three day holiday where people remember the family and friends that have died with tradition. It usually takes place at the start on November close to all saints day. Dia de los Muertos is very important to hispanics because it is a holiday that plays a big part of hispanic culture especially in mexico and this is because, it originated in Mexico. The holiday is celebrated all over the world but is mostly celebrated in Mexico. During these three days people dress up as famous spirits, sing songs for the dead, decorate tombs, cook feasts, have parades, make skulls made out of sugar, and visit the cemetery where their loved ones are.
In April, there is a recent Mexican celebration that was immigrated to the United States called Da de los Nios/ Da de los Libros which translated means Day of Children/Day of Books. It has been reintroduced to the U.S. as a celebration of children and reading. Today, it can be celebrated at libraries, at a parade, or at home with children. In May, there is Cinco de Mayo. It is already known in the U.S. to be a day of party or fiesta, but it also gives others a chance to be immersed in the Mexican culture....
Different cultures have different holiday traditions. At this time of year different cultures are preparing to celebrate Halloween or the Día de los Muertos.These two holidays occur around the same time of year. October 31st is Halloween and the Day of the Dead begins on November 1st and ends on November 2nd. Halloween is an American tradition and the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico, and other Latin American countries. Both holidays share some similarities but also have some differences.Some common themes between the two holidays are food and religion. For example, Pumpkin is associated with both holidays. And Christianity is the religion associated with both holidays. The symbols for these holidays share some similarities , for example skulls. While Halloween also is associated with ghosts and witches. A big
In Mexico, this holiday occurs on the day of October 31 and ending on November 2. They have believed that on October 31 the gates of heaven and let the souls of the children roam on Earth on November 1. Then on November 2, they once again open the gates for the adults to roam on Earth. The celebration of Dia De Los Muertos may take years of planning or maybe shorter. This day, they believed that the soul comes back and visit their loved ones. They also believe that even if they don’t see their beloved that had passed away, they can surely feel their presence. To the family, it is very important to them because this day, the family reunites and honors their loved ones that had passed away and ancestors.