Dia de los Muertos -2105

Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated on November 1. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated.
Our Climax Springs Art and Spanish classes have teamed up to study and experience this cultural holiday experience. In October, we visited the Mattie Rhodes Center in Kansas City and immersed ourselves in the altars, the candy skulls, the stories and the tin ornaments.

Learning about the altars

Each altar is family or person specific and each has a unique story

Creating tin ornaments

Working collaboratively

The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos may be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

Authentic learning, first hand