Day of the Dead Activities

 Day of the Dead is a celebration that falls on November 1. This year, THE BOOK OF LIFE, is bringing the Day of the Dead to life with fun activities for the whole family.

In Central and Southern Mexico, they believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.

With most families spending up to two months of their income for the festivities, the holiday is extravagant. Each home displays beautiful altars decorated with buckets of marigolds and red cock's combs, mounds of fruit, candles, peanuts, turkey mole, tortillas and Day of the Dead breads. Check out these fun recipes for weary spirits:

Day of the Dead Food

Toys and candies are left for the visiting spirits of children on November 1st. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets.

DOD recipes

Sugar skulls are very popular during the Day of the Dead celebrations. They are made from 50 year old molds, by artisanal sugar skull makers, for the competition at the Feria de Alfinique in Metepec, Mexico. Italian missionaries in the 17th century brought sugar art to the New World. Possibly the first sugar art was from Palermo at Easter when side altars in the Catholic Church featured sugar lambs and angels.

Mexico is abundant in sugar production, but a poor country, and unable to purchase the fancy European church decorations. The friars taught them to make sugar art. The sugar skulls represent the departed souls, with names written on the forehead and placed in the home or gravestone to honor the return of the spirit.

DOD Face Painting 1 (1)

Grab the family and have your own Day of the Dead celebration. There's plenty of fun activities.

DOD Games

bol_bd_activity_sheet_masks

bol_bd_activity_sheet_party_tips

bol_bd_activity_sheet_familytree

bol_bd_activity_sheet_pumpkins (1)

Share a little of the tradition of Day of the Dead:

DOD -- Learn About

Wrap the festivities up with a movie--THE BOOK OF LIFE!

book of life

THE BOOK OF LIFE is a breathtaking animated comedy with a dazzling visual style, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Torn between the expectations of his family and the desires of his heart, a young man named Manolo sets off on an epic quest that spans three spectacular worlds in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village. Not your ordinary fairy tale, THE BOOK OF LIFE is a wondrous fantasy-adventure filled with magic, music, and fun! THE

BOOK OF LIFE Blu-ray™ brings culture and comedy into your home with unforgettable special features for parents and kids alike. Continue the fun with an all-new bonus short “The Adventures of Chuy”, highlighting the film’s lovable scene-stealing pet pig. Additionally, relive the musical hits from the film with the "Music Machine" featuring Latin-inspired versions of popular songs by Mumford & Sons, Radiohead, Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart, and more!

DISCLOSURE: As a Fox Home Entertainment Insider, we received a copy of THE BOOK OF LIFE Blu-ray to keep and one for this giveaway.  However, no additional compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are our own. Open to U.S. mailing addresses only.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

September 2008 Issue of Family Fun

 I always wanted to write. To be a travel journalist, live like a resident, see it as a tourist. It hasn't worked out that way so far... Someday... In the meantime, check out page 80 in the September issue of Family Fun Magazine. In the box on the lower left-hand side of the page is my idea! I love Family Fun Magazine. We have subscribed to it since my second child was born, some fifteen years ago. It's changed some, and some not. It has excellent articles and they are all geared towards being a family...I love that! My favorite section is the cooking articles. I love to try new recipes and FF gears theirs so I can actually cook a great recipe with simplicity so the kiddos can do most of the work! Again, page 80...check it out!
Read more

High School Musical 3...and the Mini-Superstar!

The alarm clock downstairs rang announcing today was the day for High School Musical 3 and the mini-superstar living in our basement. Today was the big day. My second child was selected as an "extra" in the filming of High School Musical 3 . Oh, he was excited. He took forever getting ready. Shower, then an extra-long facial, followed by hair gel, hair spray, and my guess, cologne as well. He put on his brown cargo pants and Abercrombie and Fitch shirt and loaded his backpack with his change of clothes. And then, at 8:30 am he stood in the kitchen all gussied up with backpack on and ready. We had to tell him that check-in wasn't for 2-hours and settle in. I think he was sure the clocks had stopped. The excitement was killing him. Finally, it was time to go. As my husband covered instructions with him, what the money was for, where to meet for pick up, where the payphone was, here's your lunch, blah, blah, blah....my son's only response was, "Can...
Read more

Desert Thunder--Speedway Illustrated December 2009

Image
 Long before the Modified Circuit knew him, I met him. It was a long, long time ago...almost 25 years ago. He was seventeen a legend in motor-cross and destined for greater things than he'd ever imagined I met him in a sterile hospital with over-polished floors. The decor a bland grey and muted blue . I was sixteen, he was seventeen. It was seven weeks since our birthday. I don't remember him before that moment. I've written about him several times in my blog. Perhaps you remember " Reflections of a Friendship " or " Best Friends". To see him now, featured on the cover of Speedway Magazine's December 2009 issue is impressive. It's not anything I ever doubted he could do. It's not something that defines him to me. It's something that shares with the world the man I most admire--the man who is more whole, more complete than any other person I have been fortunate to meet. Enjoy this tribute written by Mike Adaskaveg and published by Speedwa...
Read more