Palmer Trinity School Celebrates Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

On Tuesday, November 1st, PTS welcomed a representative from the Mexican consulate for the Day of the Dead Chapel for the Middle School students. The speaker shared about the roots of Dia de los Muertos traditions. The visitors then offered pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") to the students.

In this Mexican holiday, families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion. It is celebrated from October 31 until November 2. The roots of the holiday go back 3,000 years to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.

Palmer Trinity moms set up an elaborate altar inside Trinity Chapel where photos of the community’s deceased loved ones were placed together with “ofrendas” (offerings) such as flowers and bread.

Traditionally, the ofrendas are the departed’s favorite foods (including drinks, mole, pan de muerto or sweet bread) intended to welcome the deceased to the altar. The altars are decorated with skulls and skeletons, the symbol of the holiday. The characters featured include personifications of death such as Calavera Catrina ("Dapper Skull") and Santa Muerte. One may also see Calaveritas (candied skulls) and marigolds, the Aztec flower of the dead, which help guide the deceased to the ofrendas.

Thank you to the parents of PTS’ Mexican community for organizing the speakers, presentations and altars.
 
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