UMUC
Ivana Nazar-Olaciregui
Summer 2011
Day of the Dead Research for Global Project
The last two weeks of October a very special celebration takes place in Mexico: The day of the Dead. It will be exciting to learn why they celebrate this unique holiday and you will try to reserach how similar or different our festivals of Dead are. You will explore the Day of the Dead and its significance by researching on the Internet and also by conversing with students like you but from Mexico. You will get to know a student in Mexico and you will have the opportunity ask him/her question and, at the same time, you will respond her/his questions about halloween (or the festival of the ath celebrated in your country). You will also will e-mail each other and you will share the voicethread you created. All the information you gather will be very useful to complete the rest of the project. Use the questions and links bellow to guide your research. You can research other websites, just remember to evelaute them before. Also, as you research come up with 4-10 questions to ask your ePaLs pen pal.
Follow the links under each question/questions to find the answers. Record your answers and complete the Venn Diagram (http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/venn.pdf):
a. What is the importance and meaning of this celebration to Mexicans? Why do they celebrate the day of the dead?
http://www3.niu.edu/newsplace/nndia.html
http://mexicolesstraveled.com/dead.htm
b. What do Mexicans do prior to the celebration days?
c. What do Mexicans do to celebrate on each day of the celebration?
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1972-november-2-the-day-of-the-dead
d. What are some foods that are made to celebrate the Day of the Dead
http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/history/a/dayofthedead.htm
e. What are CALACAS? What do they represent?
f. What is an ofrenda?
http://www.inside-mexico.com/glossary.htm
g. What items do you find in a Day of the Dead altar? What does each element represent? Print out a picture to put in your folder as reference. Write on the back of the picture the reference information.
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/altar/tradaltar.html
http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/ht/make_altar.htm
http://gomexico.about.com/od/dayofthedead/ig/Day-of-the-Dead-Altar-Photos/
h. Your question and answer#1: (use links above)
i. What are some similarities and differences in the way that Mexicans celebrate Halloween and the way Americans celebrate Halloween? (Use the Venn Diagram to answer this question)
http://www.floramex.com/lihallow.htm
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/RR/resources/resources_dod.html