HALLOWEEN+AND+DAY+OF+THE+DEAD+FESTIVITIES

The stairs and hallways leading to the altar are decorated by students with a special type of flower called [|Cempasuchitl], or 'Cempoaxochitl' (pronounced: /Sem-pa-shoch-itul/ or Marigolds and candles so that souls can be guided to the offering.) These were created form tissue paper but the altar has real ones...

Secondary School offering for Day of the Dead... dedicated to spirits with offerings of their favourite food, drink and other memorabilia associated with the departed person. Students carefully sprinkle coloured sawdust into a form that is both appealing to the eye, and helps to guide spirits to the altars that are set up for this period, which are called 'Ofrendas'. This is the altar for Primary School, which is full of colour, flowers, ornate objects and offerings. The skeletons make a regular appearance and are called 'Calacas'. The Pre-Hispanic culture used these skeletons as imagery, and are shown as being happy, playing instruments or laughing, to show that when they move on, souls are happy and not sad.

Note the skulls made of sugar which are used to adorn the altar and can be eaten. These are always present during the period of Day of the Dead and is called a Calvera de Azucar in Spanish. This Calaca is a bit thirsty by the looks of it! Notice the sweetbread next to it, which is called Pan de Muertos or Bread of the Dead. The sweetbread is usually eaten at the grave site and is very tasty. There is usually a bone-shaped part on top and some have essence orange and even tear to express the absence of the loved one.