"Scare"iachi was part of Cheekwood's Scarecrow! exhibit in 2009.
What is the Day of the Dead?
"The Day of the Dead, El dia de los muertos, is one of Mexico's most important holidays. It actually spans three days, from October 31 to November 2, and is a time to remember loved ones now gone. Families prepare favorite foods of the departed and picnic at their graves. They adorn the graves with marigolds, the traditional flower of the dead, and strew paths of petals to lead the spirits to the offerings, which, along with the delicious food, usually include salt and water, symbols of ongoing life. The people dance, sing, and share memories of their loved ones, welcoming their spirits, who are thought to return briefly to take part in the celebration." -- Tony Johnston, author of Day of the Dead
Where can I learn more about the Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead, written by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, is a picture book about a Mexican family's preparation for and celebration of the holiday. The small, striking book is sprinkled with Spanish and figurative language. Children and their parents will enjoy and learn from the story.
SpanglishBaby is all about Dia de los Muertos this week. Start your reading with Veronica Gonzalez Smith's Cultures Intertwined: Halloween VS Dia de los Muertos.
How can I celebrate the Day of the Dead?
How to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos by SpanglishBaby's Ana Lilian explains traditional ways to celebrate.
If you live in Nashville, you can attend the El Dia de los Muertos fall festival at Cheekwood this Saturday, October 30, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is free for Cheekwood members, free for children 17 and younger, and $15 for adults. There will be hands-on art activities, community art, live music and dance, Mexican food, and a Mexican marketplace. The list of things to do, see, hear, taste and be tempted to buy at the bilingual event goes on and on.
My family and I are planning to attend the festival at Cheekwood on Saturday. My son Henry learned about the Day of the Dead at a Tuesdays for Tots art program at Cheekwood last October, and has asked that we celebrate the holiday this year. Like the family in Johnston's Day of the Dead, he wants to remember los abuelos, the grandparents.





