While many Americans have been celebrating Halloween this week, in Mexico people are preparing for a different holiday knows as Día
de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This celebration lasts for three days, from October 31 until November 2. Check out the video below for an overview of what this holiday is all about.
Based on what you learned in the video, in what ways do Halloween and Día de los Muertos seem similar? In what ways do they differ?
One similarity you may have already noticed is that both holidays include macabre artwork featuring skulls and skeletons. The skulls, known as calaveras, and the skeletons, known as calacas, are central to Day of the Dead decorations and were inspired by the artist José Guadalupe Posada. Sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar) are one of the most common items for sale during Day of the Dead festivities.
http://www.arteyfotografia.com.ar
Many families set up altars in their homes in honor of their loved ones. What items can you identify on this altar? Can you explain the significance of each item?
image courtesy of San Jose Library via flickr
After comparing Halloween to Día de los Muertos, which holiday do you think has more cultural value? Explain your view in the comments below.
You may have heard about, or even been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. You may not be aware, however, that Spanish-speaking countries have similar celebrations known as Carnaval. Just like Mardi Gras, Carnaval owes part of its roots to a Catholic tradition. Historically, devout Catholics would fast for the forty days leading up to Easter in spiritual recognition of the sacrifice made by their savior, Jesus.
Christ Carrying the Cross by the Spanish artist, El Greco
This fast is known as Lent and begins every year on a day known as Ash Wednesday. Many modern day Christians observe lent by giving up a particular excess or indulgence such as smoking, drinking, eating meat, consuming sugar, etc. The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday is important because this is the day before fasting begins and is therefore observed as a "last chance" to indulge before Lent. Mardi Gras and Carnaval celebrations generally begin roughly a week prior to Ash Wednesday, culminating in a huge Fat Tuesday celebration.
photo by pkingDesign via flickr
While the most famous Carnaval celebration is, without a doubt, the celebration held in São Paulo, Brazil, (where Portuguese is the official language), other cities host well-known celebrations in the Spanish Speaking world. They include cities such as Cádiz (Spain), Tenerife (Canary Islands), Ponce (Puerto Rico), and Barranquilla (Colombia). The Carnaval of Baranquilla, Colombia perhaps outshines them all, as it has been proclaimed a World Heritage Event by UNESCO.
If you have time, watch this Spanish television special about the 2011 Carnaval in Baranquilla. (Don't worry if you don't understand the narrator, the visuals are enough!) Judging by the music, dance, costumes, etc., do you think carnaval might have other influences besides Western Catholicism? What might they be?
My seventh and eighth grade students have just finished watching the film Viva Cuba in class. If you have seen this film, I would like to know your thoughts on how the film portrayed Cuba. What surprised you? What questions did it raise about Cuban history and politics? What similarities and differences did you notice between Cuban children and children in your home country?
If YouTube is blocked, try watching the Viva Cuba trailer here.
Also, check out this webquest I recently created. My seventh and eighth graders will complete this virtual tour of Cuba before writing a detailed journal entry in which they reflect on their "travels". ¡Les deseo un buen viaje!
