Day of the Dead

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that has been gaining popularity outside of Mexico in recent years. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dia de los Muertos </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(November 1 - November 2) is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not a grim or sad occasion - d</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">espite the omnipresent images of skeletons and skulls</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Celebrants of this holiday accept the fact that death is an inescapable part of life, so they choose to remember family and friends through laughter and joy.  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh0V9MfLrjUQtp8nq2evALikIvUt7lv0zoDVS0EVtABTfBg3GjW1pVmh2gpcE4pZ6DinRWrXJsLih_9ojbRwKRXyXsjqKyPWacp7CyY0tmt7iLAEkcgagKwFSj-BOLVHUaTtEtudHoUI/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh0V9MfLrjUQtp8nq2evALikIvUt7lv0zoDVS0EVtABTfBg3GjW1pVmh2gpcE4pZ6DinRWrXJsLih_9ojbRwKRXyXsjqKyPWacp7CyY0tmt7iLAEkcgagKwFSj-BOLVHUaTtEtudHoUI/s1600/download.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My aesthetic is completely attributed to growing up in Texas with a heavy Mexican influence. The Día de los Muertos skull was an easy find on Congress Avenue in my old hometown of Austin, Texas. Notice Eleanor portrait number two behind it. She’s flattered to have so many representations of herself around." - Barbara Bush</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photographed by Jeremy Allen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/755368/apt-with-lsd-barbara-bush-maggie-betts-and-elliott-merck-photos/#7" target="_blank">APT with LSD: Barbara Bush, Maggie Betts and Elliott Merck’s Shared New York City Townhouse</a>" </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">edited by Lauren Santo Domingo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.vogue.com/" target="_blank">Vogue</a> (November 19, 2013).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeCurWE9AZbQgapjMWDKtQJ_Pzjt8EpBmbbNgycTURo7z2s8uE2DqzLs1gBlJJZxuqvi-lb55GkC_OFyQZox_cH_4P_8pWXhhqs_Ce2ZzJSUnwl6EknUyMobOCXcgTRMsi3Yryu-Dl7A/s1600/enhanced-buzz-1485-1383164153-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeCurWE9AZbQgapjMWDKtQJ_Pzjt8EpBmbbNgycTURo7z2s8uE2DqzLs1gBlJJZxuqvi-lb55GkC_OFyQZox_cH_4P_8pWXhhqs_Ce2ZzJSUnwl6EknUyMobOCXcgTRMsi3Yryu-Dl7A/s1600/enhanced-buzz-1485-1383164153-11.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo via diadelosmuertosmask.tumblr.com.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/35-breathtaking-dia-de-los-muertos-photos?sub=2715299_1890846#29xlqtn" target="_blank">29 Breathtaking Día De Los Muertos Photos</a>" by Adrian Carrasquillo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> (October 31, 2013).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLyblYH9fT0FOqU5fqGJ8L68pJHJXw1f_gFX7fjrVwTunWf8BZqnOMIQrJEX4hjUL_I6knXqRrSC_LT0pR0QDN8RvHcqAZC7AmjSn_cQOKxT2RLzlDCvN98NJFmERN1eccgJ21x4xfC0/s1600/enhanced-buzz-3961-1383164771-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLyblYH9fT0FOqU5fqGJ8L68pJHJXw1f_gFX7fjrVwTunWf8BZqnOMIQrJEX4hjUL_I6knXqRrSC_LT0pR0QDN8RvHcqAZC7AmjSn_cQOKxT2RLzlDCvN98NJFmERN1eccgJ21x4xfC0/s1600/enhanced-buzz-3961-1383164771-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "The symbol of the skull has been around since beginning of the holiday. La Calavera Catrina, or Daper Skeleton by Jose Guadalupe Posada has become the most iconic image associated with the celebration. However, the drawing was actually intended to be a parody of upper-class women in Mexico."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Image: José Guadalupe Posada / via en.wikipedia.org.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarritos/things-you-may-not-have-known-about-the-day-of-the-dead?sub=2355054_1293524#29xlqtn" target="_blank">13 Things You May Not Have Known About The Day Of The Dead</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> (July 23, 2013).</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEQDKUaRXauHurNqDguRhd9WeifXOK_P5c7Vn4QqcCTVGmOfYc17UTRzZ2LroHaootJKHck8aWix7jnT8OfxUZl3s_SWq5wRK1WrrinHvv287bhEYhmBPy1UxNSFQQDxLeT9RjjIehDc/s1600/enhanced-buzz-4858-1383238269-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEQDKUaRXauHurNqDguRhd9WeifXOK_P5c7Vn4QqcCTVGmOfYc17UTRzZ2LroHaootJKHck8aWix7jnT8OfxUZl3s_SWq5wRK1WrrinHvv287bhEYhmBPy1UxNSFQQDxLeT9RjjIehDc/s1600/enhanced-buzz-4858-1383238269-29.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo via diadelosmuertosmask.tumblr.com.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/35-breathtaking-dia-de-los-muertos-photos?sub=2715299_1890846#29xlqtn" target="_blank">29 Breathtaking Día De Los Muertos Photos</a>" by Adrian Carrasquillo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> (October 31, 2013).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQW9rqv4awSA7S-iRi3BCTCOaR5tVgD0JTh_hwTGTfCCe4MAOAGVSzMv3S3LuyS9aE37hixQzvhNyD0549S67vFYB4nLCZL4kuUAYUculbxD5_957cDEsfG3Mb3Zbdw8qXshyphenhyphenIc9XqfY/s1600/enhanced-buzz-16950-1374592468-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQW9rqv4awSA7S-iRi3BCTCOaR5tVgD0JTh_hwTGTfCCe4MAOAGVSzMv3S3LuyS9aE37hixQzvhNyD0549S67vFYB4nLCZL4kuUAYUculbxD5_957cDEsfG3Mb3Zbdw8qXshyphenhyphenIc9XqfY/s1600/enhanced-buzz-16950-1374592468-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"One popular tradition is to make colorful candy made skulls out of sugar. Often they are decorated with the names of the deceased on the forehead of the skull."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo:  Marcie Gonzalez / Getty Images.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarritos/things-you-may-not-have-known-about-the-day-of-the-dead?sub=2355054_1293524#29xlqtn" target="_blank">13 Things You May Not Have Known About The Day Of The Dead</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> (July 23, 2013).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDfQTqzDvs6Ai6IYl7wUVvIE47ivIsWMhV7GKBqdvGAJuAUEjNa1MMpUEo57gHYwk0RMBa6qcstA82bndHCy_WzwYNC2wb76hzi9Qw6_WYf3naK0jU0XOfGnmwvyA7mCJ4R1ZB-qEeRU/s1600/enhanced-buzz-17583-1383241310-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDfQTqzDvs6Ai6IYl7wUVvIE47ivIsWMhV7GKBqdvGAJuAUEjNa1MMpUEo57gHYwk0RMBa6qcstA82bndHCy_WzwYNC2wb76hzi9Qw6_WYf3naK0jU0XOfGnmwvyA7mCJ4R1ZB-qEeRU/s1600/enhanced-buzz-17583-1383241310-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Offerings, or ofrendas — usually in the form of altars — can feature marigolds along with favorite items."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo via Via neodowns.tumblr.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/35-breathtaking-dia-de-los-muertos-photos?sub=2715299_1890846#29xlqtn" target="_blank">29 Breathtaking Día De Los Muertos Photos</a>" by Adrian Carrasquillo.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> (October 31, 2013).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJbtsnl8Pnux8PCvR_cw5U_3WSI6p_D54M4aFoJsuZ67h8UOJOmNs29gaOi5GY_jKjWSRoa9KW_6HpVHPXzbc3c2kLw2RHQi58ZPpbtOf5w5E34Aj01lF4F6vnTZKjztj7tPkIcGniGk/s1600/GraveCherub375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJbtsnl8Pnux8PCvR_cw5U_3WSI6p_D54M4aFoJsuZ67h8UOJOmNs29gaOi5GY_jKjWSRoa9KW_6HpVHPXzbc3c2kLw2RHQi58ZPpbtOf5w5E34Aj01lF4F6vnTZKjztj7tPkIcGniGk/s1600/GraveCherub375.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This sweet angel grave marker is nestled amongst thousands of candles which illuminate the cemetery in Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca. Here, family members sit vigil in the cemetery throughout the night of October 31, so as to welcome the "angelitos" or dead children's spirits the moment they are released from heaven to come home to visit their parents."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html" target="_blank">History of Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This history is © Reign Trading Co. All rights reserved. Via </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://mexicansugarskull.com/">MexicanSugarSkull.com</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dEiCFwkwCrGSiBcPP_FqbfUD_uVYbVwgVQL0qJ8hi9Hxc85Ismzmoc3pCEsbjhpr2VGNTCBMNbl91gYl-WA94TzYtWS3QHVyhZLguuJkLS9ng-5_0nrCkDDI3hNZ3kNlDzWvSMd5T3A/s1600/grid-cell-25595-1383231891-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dEiCFwkwCrGSiBcPP_FqbfUD_uVYbVwgVQL0qJ8hi9Hxc85Ismzmoc3pCEsbjhpr2VGNTCBMNbl91gYl-WA94TzYtWS3QHVyhZLguuJkLS9ng-5_0nrCkDDI3hNZ3kNlDzWvSMd5T3A/s1600/grid-cell-25595-1383231891-13.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo: makeupbee.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/35-breathtaking-dia-de-los-muertos-photos?sub=2715299_1890846#29xlqtn" target="_blank">29 Breathtaking Día De Los Muertos Photos</a>" by Adrian Carrasquillo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> (October 31, 2013).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-T_PIm7l2TQzmCxUtlIyalfFxaT854zIf47J5aCWmz8VAn-Mhu3FBsz67mAfwQVQXtum4bx54CaGA8DMhxVv_3yeLp2rlaKWc0V4_O56DMHdPLNSvoSwndSp1brBRCUEYS_RNUBpzjA/s1600/img9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-T_PIm7l2TQzmCxUtlIyalfFxaT854zIf47J5aCWmz8VAn-Mhu3FBsz67mAfwQVQXtum4bx54CaGA8DMhxVv_3yeLp2rlaKWc0V4_O56DMHdPLNSvoSwndSp1brBRCUEYS_RNUBpzjA/s1600/img9c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Embellished with ornate icing and fiesta colors, our lively cookies celebrate the Day of the Dead, which takes place in Mexico around Halloween. Lovingly decorated calaveras, or sugar skulls, are always part of the festivities, and ours are made from freshly baked vanilla sugar cookies and hand decorated with royal icing. Prepared from scratch by the Monaco Baking Company using a traditional recipe, each generously sized cookie is an edible work of art."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/day-of-the-dead-cookies/" target="_blank">Giant Day of the Dead Cookies</a>," Willams-Sonoma.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GJz7fJ40cVnZtcvqjFeXTathzGnd5eg0UwmdkbS1HmTiz4H7LNKoQhYsMTd0vMnxDsqbbslRaBWhyphenhyphenfCysRA8PCXNp0KjAqJ1e9LTAjEQ1Io_2tPhfz-PMVnrH7LziiMPG-amVnV7AGA/s1600/ofrenda-patzcuaro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GJz7fJ40cVnZtcvqjFeXTathzGnd5eg0UwmdkbS1HmTiz4H7LNKoQhYsMTd0vMnxDsqbbslRaBWhyphenhyphenfCysRA8PCXNp0KjAqJ1e9LTAjEQ1Io_2tPhfz-PMVnrH7LziiMPG-amVnV7AGA/s1600/ofrenda-patzcuaro.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This woman artisan was busy decorating her home ofrenda with candles, copal, fruits, cempasuchil (wild marigolds), cock's comb and saint's images. Later, when the home cooking is done, she'll bring big plates of food to offer to the spirits of her returning loved ones! Note the beautiful cross-point cloths she made."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html" target="_blank">History of Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This history is © Reign Trading Co. All rights reserved. Via </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://mexicansugarskull.com/">MexicanSugarSkull.com</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Xd6sKpDUSbdst10XjHKGNn9eEF_0hLZzO19Ls8B-suNFKd-uny11StA_upaCeNB10Xt01Ga0uTa4BW3NrRFe_Hw0DG7-CU3QAGR5n1l1TyYJTg66YSEx5WaO_CMrUc0epqRdoXNTEA/s1600/527159b4697ab01c6d0022a2._w.540_s.fit_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Xd6sKpDUSbdst10XjHKGNn9eEF_0hLZzO19Ls8B-suNFKd-uny11StA_upaCeNB10Xt01Ga0uTa4BW3NrRFe_Hw0DG7-CU3QAGR5n1l1TyYJTg66YSEx5WaO_CMrUc0epqRdoXNTEA/s1600/527159b4697ab01c6d0022a2._w.540_s.fit_.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why should Halloween have all the fun? The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is primarily a Mexican holiday, but many people in the United States have begun to acknowledge it, if not celebrate it outright. It's a celebration of those who we've lost, but it's not a sad holiday; in fact, traditional rituals include lots of music and color. Observing some kind of simple Day of the Dead tradition can add a more thoughtful component to the festivities at this time of year. Here are a few fun Día de los Muertos crafts that you can do with your kids to introduce this cultural holiday."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://scrumdillydo.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-paper-plate-calaveras-masks.html" target="_blank">Paper Plate Calaveras Masks</a>" - Scrumdilly-do! blog via Apartment Therapy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/day-of-the-dead-crafts-for-kids-196709" target="_blank">Day of the Dead Crafts for Kids</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKlLmndqcaTTgfFZ9SECpaJOAcb0hrAICB2t5CLgniLzMYvqWzj9BR2pHw7fcpzWZYANDkABsfYzjU1OUZQAjWmRMFBNqigRlceHra2xmrQSiCsyOieCWZRwcjMCfHX2wpCzq_BFA7L8/s1600/31633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKlLmndqcaTTgfFZ9SECpaJOAcb0hrAICB2t5CLgniLzMYvqWzj9BR2pHw7fcpzWZYANDkABsfYzjU1OUZQAjWmRMFBNqigRlceHra2xmrQSiCsyOieCWZRwcjMCfHX2wpCzq_BFA7L8/s1600/31633.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dia de los Muertos has its origins in both Aztec tradition and Catholic observance of All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). Representations of calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls) are common. These women are celebrating in Oaxaca, Mexico."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Nelda Costner, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8OH0wSr5XsI_WeXfaEKpkqYXMFfuUCBh5L8tA95L_zcHi2lDCIoHSFIBideO8Uxh8KTGNttVYY3HU7FW3AaETOdSGoPLUTl1cevMXjoGZD0aIwoAJwkxrSY8TVM-geXmTb6e8FEBzOk/s1600/31634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8OH0wSr5XsI_WeXfaEKpkqYXMFfuUCBh5L8tA95L_zcHi2lDCIoHSFIBideO8Uxh8KTGNttVYY3HU7FW3AaETOdSGoPLUTl1cevMXjoGZD0aIwoAJwkxrSY8TVM-geXmTb6e8FEBzOk/s1600/31634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Catrinas are a specific type of calavera: well-dressed, wealthy women of the early 20th century. Here, a group of catrinas pose on Dia de los Muertos in Merida, Mexico."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Ellen Fields, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mspxnGm5lgiQk2i5FZT45_AmmA5QUBwnNe0As4j9Au1Va5U8cOcyZL1ujjauaoxYqiKCShJaPAitOrzU2VH8n52B52nc-KLc8cz-R0b6mzzXlToDLjCrkLhZrc4CP1YWZJDHEguZUV4/s1600/31635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mspxnGm5lgiQk2i5FZT45_AmmA5QUBwnNe0As4j9Au1Va5U8cOcyZL1ujjauaoxYqiKCShJaPAitOrzU2VH8n52B52nc-KLc8cz-R0b6mzzXlToDLjCrkLhZrc4CP1YWZJDHEguZUV4/s1600/31635.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Although trick-or-treating has become more common on Dia de los Muertos, the holiday actually has nothing to do with Halloween, which is a Northern European tradition."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Michael Allen, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaJ6CWieuoJyxJldgD-MxU9EDgNH2u4bJ5U6WPP-WKQCBSFwgbfZtfpCXXkltdYebMgHiDKrfqX09wc8gyW8MyKN0CbP8PPBKE9U3A-owGjjGYcSaIEImvWrftU7mNnlEcDR9CXQl1zU/s1600/31636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaJ6CWieuoJyxJldgD-MxU9EDgNH2u4bJ5U6WPP-WKQCBSFwgbfZtfpCXXkltdYebMgHiDKrfqX09wc8gyW8MyKN0CbP8PPBKE9U3A-owGjjGYcSaIEImvWrftU7mNnlEcDR9CXQl1zU/s1600/31636.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Calacas and calaveras are everywhere on Dia de los Muertos: masks, makeup, posters, and decorative figurines like these catrinas."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Tomas Castelazo, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_LIkoxibK3OTndr25vnqsB2bsFInV0dnyHIN4jdQ2bq9mlpFguk7n6SrVFYVjX3sDhr1fqXPBivVyteNub6ou0PNe_8SH1uJw0c0I1QG9jW5Phg59sTqWhYTkSS1H16zzit3AvPaTdo/s1600/31637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_LIkoxibK3OTndr25vnqsB2bsFInV0dnyHIN4jdQ2bq9mlpFguk7n6SrVFYVjX3sDhr1fqXPBivVyteNub6ou0PNe_8SH1uJw0c0I1QG9jW5Phg59sTqWhYTkSS1H16zzit3AvPaTdo/s1600/31637.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sweets, such as pan de muertos (bread of the dead) and these spun-sugar mariachi musicians, are common treats for Dia de los Muertos. The sweet candy is a balance to the bitterness of death."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Alejandra Gonzalez Ruiz, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw1xAA6u2UlVx7GkV2xpOSgWN5yVySjaUcvc8v8ZaI-ZnH75CsqptNC7Jm208aBeEEGw6dPhSgLpoQM7U-UaHkD6Bba6S9nb7mA8rwHLLdB_DrCyyWwwaE3660wK3Z79MOqc2LEr6kSI/s1600/31638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw1xAA6u2UlVx7GkV2xpOSgWN5yVySjaUcvc8v8ZaI-ZnH75CsqptNC7Jm208aBeEEGw6dPhSgLpoQM7U-UaHkD6Bba6S9nb7mA8rwHLLdB_DrCyyWwwaE3660wK3Z79MOqc2LEr6kSI/s1600/31638.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Calaveras de azucar are "sugar skulls", often decorated in bright colors like these in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico. These tiny candies are eaten or left for the dead in ofrendas (small, personal altars) or gravesites."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Roberta Garza, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv_qMnrmowPCSzqJ8FVgZ2PM_FOdm55tG54GVi7i_dRRVJoyjSal49DouFN04-B3xkHkAkXYfHmEU_J9MYos6PxeSh2TWRwhwbFVr6ooBXwpXfPfScOSp7j68x5DQxQHQP-1sHN0xCBg/s1600/31639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv_qMnrmowPCSzqJ8FVgZ2PM_FOdm55tG54GVi7i_dRRVJoyjSal49DouFN04-B3xkHkAkXYfHmEU_J9MYos6PxeSh2TWRwhwbFVr6ooBXwpXfPfScOSp7j68x5DQxQHQP-1sHN0xCBg/s1600/31639.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Dia de los Muertos celebrates death as a part of the human experience. Tradition holds that the dead (here rising from their candy coffins) would be offended by grieving and sadness, so festivities honor them with laughter and joy."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by George Olney, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFFSuptMxFmcEqjkjC38CHaZFy7x2lD3ECZGVdwIqdJj3o19P41MKtD3YR5DW_shamNg7FHL_q0Uyhq12W47oPC8oLGbfHEHhLU-kCtJ9kzjvuuZJvrYvQqu1zEiun6kNma1jEQYFxEA/s1600/31640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFFSuptMxFmcEqjkjC38CHaZFy7x2lD3ECZGVdwIqdJj3o19P41MKtD3YR5DW_shamNg7FHL_q0Uyhq12W47oPC8oLGbfHEHhLU-kCtJ9kzjvuuZJvrYvQqu1zEiun6kNma1jEQYFxEA/s1600/31640.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Part of Dia de los Muertos often involves cleaning and decorating the graves of loved ones. Adult graves are marked with orange marigolds, while white orchids are left at children's graves."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Sisse Brimberg.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4h0RRyJDZdljDxMTpQHCU_shBrlvUAryAtmQWeBC1kYpJusgDuNT6hbavgaV3-WOcNN3r-w2y9BfIaV7kb3AqfvQRN7ZnBetIGDW3ZjNPo1UCxzRdeJTc91oqOKR8lPQOpC3fNmpP_k/s1600/31642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4h0RRyJDZdljDxMTpQHCU_shBrlvUAryAtmQWeBC1kYpJusgDuNT6hbavgaV3-WOcNN3r-w2y9BfIaV7kb3AqfvQRN7ZnBetIGDW3ZjNPo1UCxzRdeJTc91oqOKR8lPQOpC3fNmpP_k/s1600/31642.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Although the celebration is bittersweet and its symbols macabre, Dia de los Muertos usually maintains a happy atmosphere well into the evening. Family members recall departed loved ones, sharing humorous and endearing stories around graves (here in Oaxaca) or ofrendas."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Tom Dietrich, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw_uCW8mDkShXnzBy54TsWf2ht9eK4q3o6RxIu-LPRizyOk2ROiAk1mV2QcHMNFYUbmIvgDdyHhuadc7pfOHTwjSYPM7newkaGnxHtKgQhBolXYE_V_d75aQYbyfP5BqwgzkQ8cR6Rio/s1600/dayofthedead-skeletonpeople-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw_uCW8mDkShXnzBy54TsWf2ht9eK4q3o6RxIu-LPRizyOk2ROiAk1mV2QcHMNFYUbmIvgDdyHhuadc7pfOHTwjSYPM7newkaGnxHtKgQhBolXYE_V_d75aQYbyfP5BqwgzkQ8cR6Rio/s1600/dayofthedead-skeletonpeople-01.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dressed as a Calavera for the Day of the Dead celebrations."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Photo: Michael Emery.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.mexonline.com/dayofthedead.htm" target="_blank">Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead Holiday)</a>"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> mexonline.com</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJrVYn4svuXoVbloplAKKV8hj_K8_-JzLjUsp2YabF06CAfmcEblJxpi5Jr5BuAw96StFG6ZMC7FdVPPSLafoYIwDln1nJgpjuBU46wCu_0sQjWsEujDy0-2glPxNFKpU8sfxSK1hiNE/s1600/dayofthedead_ornelas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJrVYn4svuXoVbloplAKKV8hj_K8_-JzLjUsp2YabF06CAfmcEblJxpi5Jr5BuAw96StFG6ZMC7FdVPPSLafoYIwDln1nJgpjuBU46wCu_0sQjWsEujDy0-2glPxNFKpU8sfxSK1hiNE/s1600/dayofthedead_ornelas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  Photo: Edward Ornellas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.mexonline.com/dayofthedead.htm" target="_blank">Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead Holiday)</a>"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> mexonline.com</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeW_HIHJD_G0_yqNGneE0rKMHoo7ZEiDLzWzAywRfgQAZqEEJrMH97AEcb6UVGNEJ6jc9gdF-lQgkTST84QwXDzrqxw1u-Pp9MOpT0rJO_WXS5le3DGt_TYiOk5mLoGr1NqZFLy9LcYM/s1600/31632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeW_HIHJD_G0_yqNGneE0rKMHoo7ZEiDLzWzAywRfgQAZqEEJrMH97AEcb6UVGNEJ6jc9gdF-lQgkTST84QwXDzrqxw1u-Pp9MOpT0rJO_WXS5le3DGt_TYiOk5mLoGr1NqZFLy9LcYM/s1600/31632.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a two-day festival that takes place every November 1 and 2. Although most strongly identified with Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Latin America and everywhere with a Latino population, including Los Angeles, California, above."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photograph by Laura Hasbun, MyShot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1" target="_blank">Dia de los Muertos</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Geographic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that has been gaining popularity outside of Mexico in recent years. Dia de los Muertos  (November 1 - N...

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