Day of the dead vocab terms

antepasados

ancestors, the ones who are given offerings by their families and friends.

atole

a hot beverage made with ground corn powder or cornstarch

antepasados

ancestors, the ones who are given offerings by their families and friends.

atole

a hot beverage made with ground corn powder or cornstarch

calacas

skulls and skeletons that are shown in a variety of activities

calaveritas (calaveras) de azucar

sugar skulls that are elaborately decorated, sugar represents the sweetness of life and skull represents those who have passed.   

cempasuchitl

yellow or orange marigolds that are seen on graves and altars and whose smell and color are believed to attract the spirits and lead them back home

mole

a chocolate based sauce made with many herbs and spices, usually served on chicken or turkey

ofrenda

“offering”, another word for altar where food, candles, flowers, pictures and mementos are left for the dead

pan de muerto

“bread of the dead,” baked into different shapes (human, bones, etc) and usually put on the altar

papel picado

“punched paper,” paper banners decorated with elaborate designs