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Los Días de los Muertos

(The days of the dead) by Señora Surage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Story is a vessel to row forward in your life …a lifeboat, a row boat carrying the precious cargo of ancient and modern instruction for striving to live a life filled with creative fire, meaning, healing, and love. Our stories--whether in dreams, case studies, the tiny story held in a sonnet, the story of the tree across the road, your ancestral stories, or the stories you witness firsthand in the world of family--are the ‘sudden inspiration compasses’ that surrounds each soul on earth.” Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés - Cantodora


 

For the next three weeks of October, we will be exploring the Mexican holiday, Los Días de Los Muertos. Ancient indigenous Aztec harvest rituals merged with Catholic All Saint’s Day festivities and has evolved into an important yearly holiday for many in México and in the United States for people of Mexican and Mexican American heritage. It is a time of year to honor and remember those who have passed from life on earth in their bodies to a spiritual world. In Mexican culture, it is a happy and uplifting celebration that includes costumed parades, music, special foods, like mole and pan de muerto, beautiful ofrendas or altars decorated with pápel picado, photographs of loved ones, treasured objects, sugar skulls, and humorous calacas (skeleton art). Typically families visit cemeteries to clean, decorate, and light the graves of family members, spending the evening singing and sharing stories with one another. Our students will be learning how some families in Mexican and Mexican American culture view and understand death in the cycle of life. We will explore how loved ones who have passed are remembered and honored by their families. Teachers will choose and appropriate activity for their class: decorating sugar skulls (calaveras), baking pan de muerto, making Mexican hot chocolate, listening and singing to music, reciting verses, print making and paper art, and building a traditional altar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls), are non-edible molded skulls,brightly decorated with icing, paint, feathers, glitter, and beads. They are sold in the Mexican markets to be placed on the ofrenda or altar as a happy remembrance of someone who has passed. The Monarch butterfly migration is closely linked to this celebration as millions of migrating Monarchs descend upon areas of Mexico during this holiday as they have for centuries. We will be exploring and learning the language of this natural phenomena as it is seen through the eyes Mexican culture. A traditional ofrenda or altar with all the traditional elements: vegetables, salt, copal incense, cempazuchitl petals, and water will grace the entranceway and families may bring framed photos of loved one (yes, including pets) who have passed on. Please label the back with your full name and child’s teacher. We need and welcome parent volunteers to help with any of these projects. Please contact your child’s teacher(s) to offer your participation in these festivities.

 

 

 

 

Pan de Muerto

 

Una Receta para (gluten free) pan de muerto

 

Una Receta para (with gluten) pan de muerto





 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an important icon in México and the Americas as well as with Latinos in the United States.  She represents the fusion of pre-Columbian indigenous belief in an Aztec goddess with the Spanish colonial Catholic Mary, mother of Jesus.  Her feast day is a national holiday in México celebrated on December 12th.  We will be re-telling the 484 year old story of her appearance to broaden our cultural understanding and experience.  

 

 

 

 

 



Las Posadas

Song-Spanish

Las Posadas is an annual tradition that commemorates the struggles of Joseph and Mary in their attempt to find lodging for the imminent birth of their child.This is a tradition that lives very strongly in Hispanic communities throughout the United States, Mexico, Spain, and parts of central and South America. Las Posadas are celebrated for nine consecutive nights, from December 16 to December 24. The nine days symbolize the nine months of Mary's pregnancy. "In Spanish the word Posada means “lodging”. Traditionally a party is held each night in a neighborhood home. At dusk the guests gather outside the house with the children dressed as shepherds, angels and sometimes, Mary and Joseph. An angel leads the procession followed by Mary and Joseph or by guests carrying their images. The adults follow, carrying lighted candles. The wanderers sing a song asking for shelter, and the hosts sing a reply. Finally they open the doors to the guests and offer hot “ponche” (fruit punch), buñuelos (flat, round cookies), hot tomales and other festive treats." (©2010-2012 The Waldorf Connection, Donna Ashton www.thewaldorfconnection.com) Las Posadas highlight a spirit of acceptance, unity, community, and hospitality.

December
October
January
 

 

The Coming of the Magi is celebrated in European, Latin American, and Caribbean cultures.

(Artwork by Ruth Elsasser)

 

"The three holy kings have found the star,

they eagerly follow - it leads them far.

Wherever the star shines, love must abide...

then true thoughts can enter and in us reside" (waldorfmama)

 Ya Vienen Los Reyes

  (Villancico)

Ya vienen los reyes

por el arenal;

ya le traen al Niño 

ofrenda real.

Pampanitos verdes

hojas de limón,

la Virgen María,

Madre del Señor.

Oro le trae Melchior,

incienso Gaspar,

y olorosa mirra

el rey Baltasar. 

 (popular)

This month the children will celebrate the festival of Epiphany by creating nichos depicting the journey of the Three Magi. They will also be treated to the traditional rosca, a large ring shaped pastry. The festival is celebrated on the 6th of January throughout many parts of the world. Many communities celebrate by having parades in which the Magi ride on horse back through towns giving out candy and treats. On the eve of January 5th, children set out shoe boxes or shoes filled with grass or treats to feed the camels, horses, or elephants; this varies depending on the country of origin. They then anxiously await the arrival of the Magi. Children believe that the Magi reward good children by replacing the grass with gifts. Families tradionally celebrate with a feast signifying, for many, the close of  las Navidades. 

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