TRANSLATION ACTIVITY

DÍA DE MUERTOS EN MÉXICO, QUÉ ES, SIGNIFICADO Y ORIGEN

La muerte ha sido en todas las culturas y a través de la historia, un evento que
invita a la reflexión, a rituales, a ceremonias, a la búsqueda de respuestas, que
cause temor, admiración e incertidumbre. Las culturas prehispánicas compartían
la creencia de que existe una entidad anímica e inmortal que da conciencia al
ser humano y que después de la muerte continúa su camino en el mundo de los
muertos, donde sigue necesitando de utensilios, herramientas y alimentos.

El elemento más representativo de la festividad de Día de Muertos en México son

los altares con sus ofrendas, una representación de nuestra visión sobre la
muerte, llena de alegorías y de significados.

En los lugares donde la tradición está más arraigada, los altares comienzan a
tomar forma el 28 deoctubre y llegan a su máximo esplendor el día 2 de
noviembre. Es común, que el primer día se prenda una veladora y se coloque una
flor blanca; al siguiente día se añade otra veladora y se ofrenda un vaso de agua.
Para el día 30, se enciende una nueva veladora, se coloca otro vaso de agua y se
pone un pan blanco; el día siguiente se coloca la fruta de temporada (mandarina,
guayaba, naranja, manzana, tejocote). Para el primero de noviembre, se pone la
comida dulce, el chocolate, la calabaza en tacha, y las flores. El día mayor, se
coloca la comida preferida de los difuntos, el tequila, el mezcal y la cerveza. El
elemento que no falta en ninguno de estos días es el copal encendido

El tradicional por excelencia, es el altar de siete niveles, que

representan los niveles que debe atravesar el alma para poder llegar
al lugar de su descanso espiritual. Cada escalón, es cubierto
con manteles, papel picado, hojas de plátano, palmillas y
petates de tule; cada escalón tiene un significado distinto.
 TRANSLATION ACTIVITY
DAY OF DEADS IN MEXICO. WHAT IT IS. MEANING AND ORIGIN
The death has been in all cultures and throughout history, an event that invites to
the reflection, to rituals, to ceremonies, to the search for answers, that causes
fear, admiration and uncertainty. The Pre-Hispanic cultures shared the belief that
exists a soul and immortal entity that gives consciousness to human beings and
that after death continues its way in the world of the dead, where it continues to
keep needing utensils, tools and food.

The most representative element of the festivity of Day of the Dead in Mexico are
the altars with their offerings, a representation of our vision of death, full of
allegories and meanings.

In places where the tradition is more deeply rooted, the altars begin to take form
on October 28th and get to their maximum splendor on November 2nd. It is
common that on the first day a candle is lit and is placed a white flower; the
following day another candle is added and a glass of water is offered. On the
30th, a new candle is lit, another glass of water is placed and a white bread is
placed; the following day the seasonal fruit is placed (tangerine, guava, orange,
apple, tejocote). By the first of November, it is placed the sweet food, chocolate,
pumpkin and flowers. On the main day, it is placed the favorite food of the
deceased, tequila, mezcal and beer.. The element that is not missing in any of
these days is the lit copal.

The traditional, by excellence, is the altar of seven levels, which

represent the levels that the soul must pass through in order to reach
the place of its spiritual rest. Each step is covered
with tablecloths, papel picado, banana leaves, palmillas and tule
mats. and tule mats; each step has a different meaning.
 TRANSLATION ACTIVITY
DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO. WHAT IT IS. MEANING AND ORIGIN
Death has been in all cultures and throughout history, an event that invites
reflection, rituals, ceremonies, the search for answers, causing fear, admiration
and uncertainty. Pre-Hispanic cultures shared the belief that there is a soul and
immortal entity that gives consciousness to human beings and that after death
continues its journey in the world of the dead, where it continues to need utensils,
tools and food.

The most representative element of the Day of the Dead festivity in Mexico are the
altars with their ofrendas, a representation of our vision of death, full of allegories
and meanings.

In places where the tradition is more deeply rooted, the altars begin to take shape
on October 28th and reach their maximum splendor on November 2nd. It is
common that on the first day a candle is lit and a white flower is placed; the
following day another candle is added and a glass of water is offered. On the
30th, a new candle is lit, another glass of water is placed and a white bread is
placed; the following day the seasonal fruit is placed (tangerine, guayaba,
orange, apple, tejocote). On the first of November, the sweet food, chocolate,
pumpkin and flowers are placed. On the main day, the favorite food of the
deceased, tequila, mezcal and beer are placed. The element that is not
lacking in any of these days is the lit copal.

The traditional by excellence, is the altar of seven levels, which

represent the levels that the soul must pass through in order to reach
the place of its spiritual rest. Each step is covered
with tablecloths, papel picado, banana leaves, palmillas and tule
mats. and tule mats; each step has a different meaning.