{"id":30773,"date":"2022-10-24T08:47:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T15:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/?p=30773"},"modified":"2023-09-07T14:30:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T21:30:21","slug":"day-of-the-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/events\/events-special\/day-of-the-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Dia de los Muertos"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-30773\" data-postid=\"30773\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-30773 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    \t<!-- module_row -->\n\t<div  data-css_id=\"0p3974\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row page-header-title-only repeat fullwidth_row_container tb_0p3974 tb_first tf_clearfix\" >\n\t    \t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_middle col_auto_height col-count-2 tf_box tf_w tf_rel\"  data-basecol=\"2\" data-col_mobile=\"column-full\">\n\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" style=\"width: 64.75%\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 first tb_r43375 tf_box\">\n\t\t\t    \t        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n\t\t    <!-- module fancy heading -->\n<div  class=\"module module-fancy-heading tb_4mhb75 page-title-hide-sub-head tb_hide_divider\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <h1 class=\"fancy-heading\">\n    <span class=\"main-head tf_block\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSpecial Events\t\t    <\/span>\n\n\t\n    <span class=\"sub-head tf_block tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <\/span>\n    <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module fancy heading -->\n\t        <\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" style=\"width: 32.05%\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 last tb_wk5y205 tf_box\">\n\t\t\t    \t        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n\t\t    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_oecg952   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p><strong>Extended Museum Hours:<\/strong><br \/>Sunday 10\/30\u00a0 11am &#8211; 7:30pm<br \/>Tuesday 11\/1 3pm &#8211; 8pm<br \/>Wednesday 11\/2 3pm &#8211; 8pm<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t        <\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/row_inner -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/module_row -->\n\t\t<!-- module_row -->\n\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_dxmi769 tf_clearfix\" >\n\t    \t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top col-count-2 tf_box tf_w tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 first tb_2ucm769 tf_box\">\n\t\t\t    \t        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n\t\t    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_77xp770  IMG-LEFT image-top tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-1024x1024-500x500.png\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-30949\" title=\"Dia De Los Muertos graphic with group names\" alt=\"Graphic - words Dia De Los Muertos \/ Day of the Dead\" srcset=\"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-1024x1024-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-350x350.png 350w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-1024x1024-398x398.png 398w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website-1024x1024-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/REV-All-groups-website.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->\t        <\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 last tb_df39187 tf_box\">\n\t\t\t    \t        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n\t\t    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_lhnl771 exhibition-details  \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <h2>D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/h2>\n<p style=\"color: #a35004; font-family: 'Poppins'; font-size: 22px;\"><strong>2022<br><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">October 30 &#8211; November 18<\/span><\/p>\n<p>El Museo de Historia de Santa M\u00f3nica (SMHM en sus siglas en ingl\u00e9s) recibe a estudiantes de las escuelas secundarias de Santa M\u00f3nica, University, Venice y Culver City mientras celebramos el D\u00eda de los Muertos. Los estudiantes compartir\u00e1n hermosos altares en honor a familiares y amigos. La rica tradici\u00f3n del D\u00eda de los Muertos es para celebrar a los seres queridos que han fallecido. Adem\u00e1s, es una oportunidad para procesar su p\u00e9rdida y recordarlos. El D\u00eda de los Muertos no es una conmemoraci\u00f3n triste sino una celebraci\u00f3n alegre y colorida de la vida y los recuerdos de nuestros difuntos.<\/p>\n<p>SMHM hosts students from Santa Monica, University, Venice, and Culver City High Schools as we honor the Day of the Dead or\u00a0<i>D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/i>. Students share beautiful altars honoring family and friends who passed away. The rich tradition of <i>D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/i>\u00a0is a rare opportunity to remember them. It is also an opportunity to process their loss and to spend time with loved ones.\u00a0<i>D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/i>\u00a0is not a mournful commemoration but a joyous, colorful celebration of life and memories.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t        <\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/row_inner -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/module_row -->\n\t\t<!-- module_row -->\n\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row repeat-none tb_p7t1355 tf_clearfix\" >\n\t    \t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top col-count-1 tf_box tf_w tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full first tb_hm5h355 repeat-none tf_box\">\n\t\t\t    \t        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n\t\t    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_n09t356   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Altares presentados por estudiantes de:<br>Altars Presented by Students from:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Latinx Leaders<\/span>, Santa Monica High School<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">M.E.Ch.A.\/Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztl\u00e1n &amp; World Languages\/Global Studies Magnet<\/span>, Venice High School<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">AVID Club and Latino Student Union<\/span>, University High School<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">La Fuerza<\/span>, Culver City High School<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t        <\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/row_inner -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/module_row -->\n\t\t<!-- module_row -->\n\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_d6e9679 tf_clearfix\" >\n\t    \t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top col-count-1 tf_box tf_w tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full first tb_2ues680 tf_box\">\n\t\t\t    \t        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n\t\t    <!-- module accordion -->\n<div  class=\"module module-accordion tb_6en8680 \" data-behavior=\"accordion\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    \n    <ul class=\"ui module-accordion plus-icon-button  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t    <li class=\"builder-accordion-active\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#acc-6en8680-0\" aria-controls=\"acc-6en8680-0-content\" aria-expanded=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"accordion-icon tf_hide\"><svg  aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tf_fa tf-ti-angle-down\"><use href=\"#tf-ti-angle-down\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"accordion-active-icon\"><svg  aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tf_fa tf-ti-angle-up\"><use href=\"#tf-ti-angle-up\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tb_title_accordion tf_w\">Spanish<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"acc-6en8680-0-content\" data-id=\"acc-6en8680-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"accordion-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"tb_text_wrap\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>D\u00eda de los muertos<br><\/strong><\/span>En M\u00e9xico el d\u00eda de los muertos es una celebraci\u00f3n que combina celebraciones prehisp\u00e1nicas y cat\u00f3licas, permitiendo a los mexicanos mantener vivas tradiciones antiguas. Entre estas tradiciones se evocan sentimientos contrastantes, el dolor de la p\u00e9rdida de un ser querido y los colores y la diversi\u00f3n de la celebraci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<p>El d\u00eda de los muertos trata sobre recordar a los seres queridos y lo que los hac\u00eda felices, creando una conexi\u00f3n y que de esa forma no sean olvidados. Al enfocarte en tus seres amados, tendr\u00e1s la rara oportunidad de pasar tiempo nuevamente con ellos. En un tiempo marcado por el duelo y el aislamiento, el d\u00eda de los muertos puede ser una oportunidad para procesar la p\u00e9rdida y recordar. Tambi\u00e9n es una oportunidad para hacernos conscientes de nuestra propia mortalidad y el ciclo de la vida y la muerte. En lugar de negar o temer a la muerte, el d\u00eda nos recuerda que debemos vislumbrar y aceptar su significado. El d\u00eda de los muertos no es un evento triste, al contrario, es una celebraci\u00f3n alegre y colorida en donde la muerte no es una extra\u00f1a o atemorizante, si no alegre, e incluso amigable.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Historia<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><br>El d\u00eda de los muertos ha estado presente por muchos a\u00f1os. Los aztecas honraban a la muerte con celebraciones y rituales durante la temporada de cosecha, y ve\u00edan a la muerte como el inicio de un nuevo ciclo de vida. La festividad deriva de una perspectiva cultural que ve a la muerte no como el final, si no como una transici\u00f3n a la siguiente etapa. Nuestras vidas tienen temporadas y ciclos, como todo lo dem\u00e1s. El d\u00eda de los muertos las almas que se han movido hacia la siguiente etapa, tienen la oportunidad de cruzar de regreso y estar con la gente que los am\u00f3 en vida, as\u00ed que celebrar el d\u00eda de muertos es una forma de conectar con sus ancestros y honrarlos. Pero la versi\u00f3n con la que estamos familiarizados hoy en d\u00eda, es una mezcla de tradiciones ind\u00edgenas y cat\u00f3licas, que fueron incorporadas cuando los colonizadores espa\u00f1oles llegaron a lo que hoy es M\u00e9xico.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Celebraci\u00f3n<\/span> <\/strong><br>El festival est\u00e1 dividido en dos partes, la primera es el d\u00eda de todos los santos, el 1 de noviembre, y la segunda el d\u00eda de los muertos o de todas las almas, el 2 de noviembre.<\/p>\n<p><em>D\u00eda de todos los santos: 1 de noviembre<\/em><br>Este d\u00eda se celebra la fiesta de todos los santos que llevaron una vida ejemplar, as\u00ed como a los ni\u00f1os que han fallecido. El festival es m\u00e1s peque\u00f1o que el del siguiente d\u00eda, sin embargo, es costumbre el crear altares para los santos dentro de las iglesias, y muchas familias crean altares para los ni\u00f1os difuntos, ya sea dentro de sus casas o en los cementerios. Los altares son decorados con papeles de colores, flores de cempas\u00fachil, dulces y juguetes si el altar es para alg\u00fan ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n<p><em>D\u00eda de los muertos: 2 de noviembre<\/em><br>Este d\u00eda es la celebraci\u00f3n m\u00e1s grande, llena de muchas tradiciones. Mientras que algunas personas simplemente llevan flores a las tumbas de sus familiares, otros comienzan los rituales al amanecer, haciendo altares para los muertos en sus tumbas. Estos altares est\u00e1n destinados a proveer un buen paso a trav\u00e9s de la muerte.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Altares y elementos<\/strong><\/span><br>Los altares son un portal que permite que los esp\u00edritus cruzan de regreso al mundo de los vivos. Muchas familias pasan largas horas trabajando en sus altares, transform\u00e1ndolos en verdaderas obras de arte. A pesar de que existen diversas formas de hacer altares para los muertos, las versiones m\u00e1s b\u00e1sicas involucran el colocar fotograf\u00edas de las personas fallecidas en una mesa cubierta con un mantel en casa, decorada con flores y algunos recuerdos.<\/p>\n<p>Otros altares son realizados de acuerdo a la tradici\u00f3n de incluir siete niveles, los cuales representan los siete niveles que el alma de la persona muerta debe atravesar para poder descansar en paz. Estos altares son generalmente realizados en lugares espaciosos, los cuales deben ser barridos con hierbas arom\u00e1ticas de los cuatro vientos un d\u00eda antes. Primero, la estructura fundamental del altar est\u00e1 construida con materiales como cart\u00f3n o madera. Cada uno es m\u00e1s peque\u00f1o que el nivel anterior, colocado uno sobre otro, y cada nivel es cubierto con tela blanca y negra.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><em>Niveles del altar<\/em><\/span><br>Cada nivel del altar contiene objetos espec\u00edficos y distinto significado:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>En el primer nivel se encuentra una imagen del santo patr\u00f3n o de la virgen Mar\u00eda.<\/li>\n<li>El segundo nivel incluye velas para las almas del purgatorio.<\/li>\n<li>El tercer nivel incluye sal para los ni\u00f1os en el purgatorio.<\/li>\n<li>En el cuarto nivel se a\u00f1ade pan dulce llamado \u201cpan de muerto\u201d adornado con az\u00facar rojo que simula la sangre. Como una dedicaci\u00f3n personal, es preferible que el pan sea elaborado por la familia del difunto.<\/li>\n<li>En el quinto nivel se a\u00f1ade la fruta, alimentos y bebidas que fueron las favoritas del difunto.<\/li>\n<li>En el sexto nivel se incluyen las fotos de los fallecidos.<\/li>\n<li>Por \u00faltimo, el s\u00e9ptimo nivel del altar es coronado con una cruz hecha de tejocotes y limas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A pesar que la tradici\u00f3n var\u00eda a trav\u00e9s de las distintas regiones y familias, ciertos elementos son constantes, incluyendo los objetos simb\u00f3licos que se incluyen como ofrenda para representar aspectos de la vida.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><em>Elementos del altar<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>Agua- una copa de agua se coloca para apaciguar la sed del esp\u00edritu despu\u00e9s de su viaje. Representa la pureza del esp\u00edritu, el agua est\u00e1 destinada a revitalizar las energ\u00edas de los esp\u00edritus para su viaje al m\u00e1s all\u00e1.<\/li>\n<li>Viento \u2013 se representa con el papel picado, el cual son banderines de papel de colores que se mueven con la briza. Estos papeles coloridos se recortan con dise\u00f1os que representan el d\u00eda de los muertos y se cuelgan alrededor del altar.<\/li>\n<li>Fuego \u2013 ilumina el paso que gu\u00eda a las almas al altar.<\/li>\n<li>Tierra \u2013 aserr\u00edn pintado, p\u00e9talos de cempas\u00fachil, semillas o tierra de pante\u00f3n para crear el camino hacia el altar.<\/li>\n<li>Copal \u2013 al quemar esta resina se pretende que ayude a la transici\u00f3n del mundo de los muertos al mundo de los vivos.<\/li>\n<li>Cruz \u2013 una forma de arco crea un portal f\u00edsico para que las almas entren en nuestro mundo.<\/li>\n<li>Sal \u2013 simboliza protecci\u00f3n divina. Se cree que durante el viaje al m\u00e1s all\u00e1, la sal previene que el cuerpo del difunto se desmorone en su camino tortuoso hacia la eternidad.<\/li>\n<li>Calaveras de az\u00facar: se pueden usar para representar a cada persona en la ofrenda, tanto vivas como muertas, e introducir a los ni\u00f1os a la idea de la festividad de que la muerte puede ser una celebraci\u00f3n en lugar de ser algo atemorizante.<\/li>\n<li>Fotograf\u00edas \u2013 de la persona o personas que quieres recordar y que te visiten.<\/li>\n<li>Im\u00e1genes de los santos- sirven como recordatorio de su rol como intermediarios entre los vivos, los muertos y el m\u00e1s all\u00e1.<\/li>\n<li>Velas \u2013 iluminan la ofrenda y gu\u00edan el camino de los esp\u00edritus que regresan.<br>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>Cirios y veladoras \u2013 estos dos tipos de velas, tienen cada uno su propio significado. Los cirios b\u00e1sicos, sin adornos de parafina, simbolizan el alma estando sola y t\u00edpicamente son colocados en forma de cruz, representando los cuatro puntos cardinales. Las veladoras que se encuentran t\u00edpicamente dentro de un vaso de vidrio adornado con la imagen de alg\u00fan santo, sirven como gu\u00eda para iluminar el camino de los fallecidos en la ascensi\u00f3n del esp\u00edritu.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Comida y bebida \u2013 la comida favorita de los seres amados debe agregarse al altar para dos prop\u00f3sitos, agradar a los que ya se fueron y recordar los buenos momentos que compartieron. Estas ofrendas usualmente incluyen, pulque, tequila, vino, licor, chocolates, pozole y tambi\u00e9n puede incluir otras cosas que disfrutaban como cigarros o alg\u00fan juguete.<br>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>Pan &#8211; es la ofrenda de comida m\u00e1s com\u00fan para los esp\u00edritus, y la forma m\u00e1s com\u00fan se llama pan de muerto, una hogaza redonda que se puede adornar en tres colores en forma de huesos, y luego se espolvorea con az\u00facar blanca.<\/li>\n<li>Fruta &#8211; es para deleitar el alma, incluye frutas de temporada como manzanas (que representan la sangre), calabaza, ca\u00f1a de az\u00facar y j\u00edcama.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Cempas\u00fachil &#8211; es la cal\u00e9ndula mexicana de color amarillo brillante, tambi\u00e9n conocida como la flor de muerto, que es el principal adorno floral para tumbas y altares. Se cree que su fuerte aroma y color brillante (se dice que representa al dios azteca del sol Tonatiuh) atrae a los esp\u00edritus cuando vienen a visitar a su familia en el d\u00eda de muertos. Tambi\u00e9n se cree que los coloridos tonos naranja y amarillo ayudan a las almas de los difuntos a encontrar su camino en el m\u00e1s all\u00e1. Los p\u00e9talos a menudo se extienden para cubrir un nivel de la ofrenda.<\/li>\n<li>Tapete de Arena &#8211; una &#8220;alfombra de arena&#8221; es una decoraci\u00f3n elaborada en el suelo frente a un altar. Se pueden hacer con arena, flores, aserr\u00edn pintado, tierra o semillas.<\/li>\n<li>Petate: un petate tejido con palmas se coloca frente al altar como un lugar para arrodillarse y reflexionar u orar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Altares presentados por los alumnos de la Doctora Mireles-Toumayan,Guadalupe de Santa Monica High School, University High School, Venice High School, Culver City High School, y Hamilton High School.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n\t    <\/li>\n\t\t    <li>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#acc-6en8680-1\" aria-controls=\"acc-6en8680-1-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"accordion-icon\"><svg  aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tf_fa tf-ti-angle-down\"><use href=\"#tf-ti-angle-down\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"accordion-active-icon tf_hide\"><svg  aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tf_fa tf-ti-angle-up\"><use href=\"#tf-ti-angle-up\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tb_title_accordion tf_w\">English<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"acc-6en8680-1-content\" data-id=\"acc-6en8680-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"tb_text_wrap\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/strong><\/span><br>In Mexico, D\u00eda de los Muertos is a celebration that combines pre-Hispanic and Catholic celebrations, allowing the Mexican people to keep ancient traditions alive. Within these traditions, contrasting feelings are evoked: the pain of losing a loved one together with the color and fun of a celebration.<\/p>\n<p>D\u00eda de los Muertos is about remembering your loved ones and what would make them happy, creating a connection so they\u2019re not forgotten. By focusing on your loved ones, you have the rare opportunity to spend time with them again. In a time marked by grief and isolation, D\u00eda de los Muertos can be a chance to process and remember. It is also a time to come to terms with our own mortality and the cycle of life and death. Rather than deny or fear death, the day teaches all of us to contemplate and accept its meaning. D\u00eda de los Muertos is not a mournful event, but a happy and colorful celebration in which death is depicted not as frightening or strange, but in a lively, friendly way.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>History<\/strong><\/span><br>D\u00eda de Muertos have been around for many years. The Aztecs honored the dead with celebrations and rituals during the harvest season and saw death as the start of a new life cycle. The holiday derives from a cultural perspective that sees death not as an ending, but as a transition to the next stage. Our lives have seasons and cycles, like everything else. On D\u00eda de Muertos, souls that have moved on to their next stage have a chance to cross back and be with the people who loved them, so celebrating D\u00eda de los Muertos is a way of connecting with your ancestors and honoring them. But the version that we are familiar with today is a mixture of Indigenous traditions and Catholic ones, which were incorporated when the Spanish colonizers arrived in Mexico.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Celebration<\/strong><\/span><br>The festival is divided into two parts, the first on All Saints&#8217; Day, celebrated on November 1, and the second, the Day of the Dead or All Souls\u2019 Day, on November 2.<\/p>\n<p><em>All Saints&#8217; Day: November 1<\/em><br>This day celebrates the feast of all the saints who led an exemplary life, as well as deceased children. This festival is smaller than the following day, although it is customary to create altars for the saints inside churches, and many families create altars for their deceased children inside homes or in cemeteries. The altars are decorated with multicolored paper, cempas\u00fachil (marigolds) flowers, and sweets and toys if the altar is for a child.<\/p>\n<p><em>Day of the Dead: November 2<\/em><br>This day is the largest celebration, full of many traditions. While some people simply bring flowers to relatives\u2019 graves, others begin their rites at dawn, making altars for the dead on their graves. These altars are meant to provide a good path through death.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Altars and Elements<\/strong><\/span><br>The altar is a portal that allows someone to cross back into the world of the living. Many families spend long hours working on their altars, turning them into true works of art. While there are many ways to make altars for the dead, the simplest version involves placing a photograph of the deceased person on a tablecloth-covered table at home, decorated with flowers and some souvenirs.<\/p>\n<p>Other altars are made according to the tradition of including seven steps, which represent the seven levels the soul of a dead person must pass through in order to rest. These altars are generally made in larger spaces, which must be swept with aromatic herbs from the four winds one day before. First, the foundational structure of the altar is built from material like cardboard or wood. Each successively smaller level is placed on top, and each step is lined with black and white fabric.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><em>Altar Steps<\/em><\/span><br>Each step of an altar contains a specific meaning and objects:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>On the first step is an image of a patron saint or the Virgin Mary.<\/li>\n<li>The second step includes candles for the souls in purgatory.<\/li>\n<li>The third step includes salt for the children in purgatory.<\/li>\n<li>On the fourth, bread called pan de muerto or &#8220;bread of the dead&#8221; is added, adorned with red sugar that simulates blood. As a personal dedication, it is preferable for the bread to be made by the relatives of the deceased.<\/li>\n<li>On the fifth, the deceased\u2019s favorite fruits, foods, and drinks are added.<\/li>\n<li>The sixth step includes photos of the deceased.<\/li>\n<li>Lastly, the altar is topped with a cross made of tejocote (hawthorn) and limes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While traditions vary across regions and families, certain elements are consistent, including the symbolic objects included as offerings to represent aspects of life.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><em>Altar Elements<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>Water &#8211; a cup of water is provided to quench the spirits\u2019 thirst after their journey. Representative of the purity of the soul, water is meant to reinvigorate the spirits\u2019 energies for their journey into the beyond.<\/li>\n<li>Wind &#8211; is represented by papel picado, a colorful cutout paper banner that moves in the breeze. These colorful tissue paper rectangles are cut to display Dia de Muertos designs and hung above and around altars.<\/li>\n<li>Fire &#8211; illuminates the path that guides the souls to the altar.<\/li>\n<li>Earth &#8211; painted sawdust, cempas\u00fachil, seeds or pantheon dust create a path to the altar.<\/li>\n<li>Copal &#8211; burning this resin is meant to help in the transition from the world of the dead into the world of the living.<\/li>\n<li>Cruz &#8211; an arch shape creates a physical portal for the souls to enter our world.<\/li>\n<li>Salt &#8211; symbolizes divine protection. It is believed that during the journey of the afterlife, salt will prevent the body of the departed from breaking down as it travels along the winding road to eternity.<\/li>\n<li>Sugar skulls &#8211; can be used to represent each person on the ofrenda, both alive and dead, and introduce children to the holiday\u2019s idea that death can be celebratory instead of frightening.<\/li>\n<li>Photos &#8211; of the person or people you want to remember and be visited by.<\/li>\n<li>Images of saints &#8211; serve as reminders of their role as intermediaries between the living, the dead and the beyond.<\/li>\n<li>Candles &#8211; light the ofrenda and guide the way for a spirit\u2019s return.\n<ul>\n<li>Cirios and Velas &#8211; these two types of candles each have their own meaning. The basic, unadorned parafin Cirio symbolizes the soul being alone, and are typically placed in a cross representing the cardinal points. Velas, which are typically in a glass container adorned with the image of a saint, serve as a guide to light the deceased\u2019s way in the ascension of the spirit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Food and beverages &#8211; your loved one\u2019s favorite foods should be added to the altar to both please the departed and recall fond memories with them. These offerings often include pulque, tequila, wine, liquor, chocolate, or posole, a drink made from corn and honey, and can also include other things they enjoyed such as cigars or toys.\n<ul>\n<li>Bread &#8211; is the most common food offering for the spirits, and the most common form is called pan de muerto, a round loaf that may be adorned in three colors in the forms of bones, and then sprinkled with white sugar.<\/li>\n<li>Fruit &#8211; is to delight the soul, including seasonal fruits such as apples (which represent the blood), pumpkin, sugar cane, and jicama.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Cempasuchil &#8211; is the bright yellow Mexican marigold, also known as the flor de muerto, that is the main floral adornment for gravesites and altars. Its strong scent and bright color (said to represent the Aztec sun god Tonotiuh) are believed to attract the spirits as they come to visit their family on the Day of the Dead. The colorful orange and yellow hues are also believed to help the souls of the departed find their way along the path in the afterlife. The petals are often spread to cover a level of the ofrenda.<\/li>\n<li>Tapete de Arena &#8211; a \u201crug of sand\u201d is an elaborate decoration on the ground in front of an altar. They can be made with sand, flowers, painted sawdust, dirt, or seeds.<\/li>\n<li>Petate &#8211; a bedroll woven from palms is placed in front of the altar as a place to kneel in reflection or pray.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Altars presented by Doctora Mireles-Toumayan\u2019s students from Santa Monica High School, University High School, Venice High School, Culver City High School, and Hamilton High School.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n\t    <\/li>\n\t    <\/ul>\n\n<\/div><!-- \/module accordion --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_i3c996   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p>Day of the Dead<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t        <\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/row_inner -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/module_row -->\n\t<\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SMHM hosts students from local high schools as we honor Dia de los Muertos. Students share beautiful altars honoring family and friends. The rich tradition of Dia de los Muertos is a rare opportunity to spend time with loved ones who have passed away as well as being a time to process their loss and remember. Dia de los Muertos is not a mournful commemoration but a joyous, colorful celebration of life and memory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"El Museo de Historia de Santa M\u00f3nica (SMHM en sus siglas en ingl\u00e9s) recibe a estudiantes de las escuelas secundarias de Santa M\u00f3nica, University, Venice, Hamilton y Culver City mientras celebramos el D\u00eda de los Muertos. Los estudiantes compartir\u00e1n hermosos altares en honor a familiares y amigos. La rica tradici\u00f3n del D\u00eda de los Muertos es para celebrar a los seres queridos que han fallecido. Adem\u00e1s, es una oportunidad para procesar su p\u00e9rdida y recordarlos. %%post_excerpt%% %%post_excerpt%%","_seopress_robots_index":"","_crdt_document":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[129,112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-popup","category-events-special","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30773"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32749,"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30773\/revisions\/32749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/santamonicahistory.org\/bkp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}