Indigenous Roots

Día de los Muertos traces back to the indigenous peoples of central and southern Mexico, particularly the Aztec civilization. Long before Spanish colonizers arrived in 1519, the Aztecs honored Mictecacihuatl (meek-teh-kah-SEE-waht-l), the goddess of death and the underworld.

Cultural Blending: Spanish Colonial Period

When Spanish conquistadors invaded Mexico in the early 1500s, they attempted to eliminate indigenous religious practices. However, Mexican indigenous peoples resisted by blending their traditions with imposed Catholic practices—a phenomenon that shaped modern Mexican culture.

The Compromise:

• Spanish colonizers moved the indigenous death celebrations from summer to early November
• This timing aligned with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day (collectively called Allhallowtide)
• The holiday became nominally Catholic, but many indigenous practices remained
• This cultural synthesis is what we celebrate today as Día de los Muertos

Traditional Elements with Indigenous Origins:

Ofrendas (Altars)

• Home altars decorated to welcome deceased loved ones
• May have originated from pre-Hispanic household altars used for rituals and ancestor communication
• Contain offerings: favorite foods, drinks, photos, and personal items of the deceased

Cempasúchil (Mexican Marigolds)

• Vibrant orange flowers that bloom in fall
• Aztec name: cempasúchil
• According to myth, their sweet smell awakens and guides the dead home
• Used to decorate altars, graves, and create pathways

Calaveras (Decorative Skulls and Skeletons)

• Artistic representations of skeletons enjoying the afterlife
• Roots in Aztec depictions of gods in skeletal form
• Not meant to be scary—they’re celebratory and often whimsical
• Sugar skulls are handmade treats decorated with colorful icing

Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead)

• Special sweet bread prepared for the holiday
• Often shaped to represent bones
• Shared among families and left as offerings

Alebrijes

• Fantastical, colorful spirit animals
• Featured prominently in Disney/Pixar’s “Coco” (2017)
• Part of Mexico City’s massive annual parade

What Families Do Today:

October 31st: Families often begin celebrations with overnight vigils at gravesites

November 1st: Traditionally honors deceased children (Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos)

November 2nd: Honors deceased adults

Throughout these days, families:

• Clean and decorate graves with marigolds and candles
• Build ofrendas in their homes
• Share stories and memories of departed loved ones
• Prepare favorite foods of the deceased
• Celebrate with music, dancing, and community gatherings

Respectful Classroom Integration:

For Literature Connections:

• Use age-appropriate books that accurately represent the tradition
• Look for #OwnVoices authors (Mexican and Mexican-American writers)

For Art Activities:

• Provide cultural context before any craft activity
• Explain the symbolism of colors, marigolds, and calaveras
• Make personal memory activities rather than appropriating sacred objects

For Cross-Cultural Learning:

• Compare how different cultures honor deceased loved ones
• Discuss how your students’ families remember people who have passed
• Emphasize respect for diverse traditions

Social Studies:

• Understanding cultural traditions and their historical origins
• Exploring cultural diffusion and synthesis
• Examining pre-Columbian civilizations
• Recognizing the impact of colonization on indigenous cultures

Language Arts:

• Reading culturally authentic literature
• Understanding symbolism and metaphor
• Comparing and contrasting traditions
• Respectful representation of diverse perspectives

Art:

• Exploring cultural art forms and their meanings
• Understanding the role of visual symbols in culture
• Creating meaningful personal expressions about memory and family

Life Skills and Grief:

• Processing feelings about loss and remembrance
• Understanding different cultural approaches to grief
• Building empathy across cultural differences
• Celebrating family connections and traditions

For Younger Students (K-2):

• How do families in your class remember people who are special to them?
• What are some ways different families celebrate important days?
• Why do you think families in Mexico use bright colors and flowers for this celebration?

For Middle Elementary (3-4):

• How did indigenous Mexican traditions blend with Spanish Catholic traditions?
• What can we learn about Aztec beliefs from how they honored Mictecacihuatl?
• How is remembering loved ones with joy different from feeling sad about loss?

For Upper Elementary (5th):

• How did indigenous Mexicans resist cultural erasure during colonization?
• What does Día de los Muertos teach us about different cultural perspectives on death?
• How do historical events shape the traditions we celebrate today?

For Accurate Information:

• Consult Mexican and Mexican-American cultural organizations
• Review materials from anthropology and history scholars specializing in Mesoamerican cultures
• Use museum resources from institutions with strong Latin American collections

For Family Engagement:

• Create optional activities that invite families to share their own remembrance traditions
• Provide resources in Spanish and English
• Be mindful that not all Latinx families celebrate this tradition