Here are some vocabulary words that may be useful for understanding Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.
Altar
© Suzanne Barbezat
For Day of the Dead, many people make altars or ofrendas ("offerings") in their homes to honor their loved ones who have died. Find out how to make your own Day of the Dead altar, or see pictures of more altars.
Angelitos
Angelitos are "little angels." This word is used to talk about children who have died and who are believed to return on the night of the 31st, and stay through the day of November 1st, visiting with their families. The spirits of adults who died visit on the following day. The altars are often prepared in a special way to receive the angelitos, then other elements, such as cigarettes and bottles of liquor, are added later, when the adult spirits arrive.Calavera
© Suzanne Barbezat
A calavera is a skull, a calaverita is a little skull, and a calavera de azucar is a sugar skull. These are placed on the altar and often have the name of the deceased person inscribed on the forehead - or as a playful gesture, the name of a person who is still alive.
Catrina, La
By Jose Guadalupe Posada
La Catrina is a character that was created by Mexican lithographer and illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852–1913). La Catrina is a female skeleton who is dressed in the style of upper-class women of the period. Posada initiated the tradition of depicting contemporary figures as skeletons in a humorous way as a form of social commentary. La Catrina has become a prominent figure in Day of the Dead decorations and celebrations.
Cempasuchil
© Suzanne Barbezat
This type of flower is also known as flor de muerto, and is used in Day of the Dead altars and to decorate graves. It grows plentifully at this time of year in Mexico and its pungent odor is said to attract the spirits who come to visit their mortal loved ones for Day of the dead.
Comparsa
© Suzanne Barbezat
A comparsa is a carnival-like celebration in which people dress up in costumes and dance. Comparsas play an important part in Oaxaca's Day of the Dead celebrations, where costumes are incredibly creative and surprising.
Copal
Copal is an incense made of resin that comes from the tree of the same name. Copal incense was burned in Mesoamerica in ancient times, and is still burned for special ceremonies and is often placed on or near Day of the Dead altars, as another olfactory element to draw in the spirits. The word copal is derived from the Nahuatl word copalli, which means "incense".Fieles Difuntos
Fieles Difuntos means "faithful departed" and the term refers to the Catholic celebration of All Souls. In Catholicism, the commemoration or honoring of all the faithful departed is celebrated on November 2nd, whereas November 1st is the celebration of All Saints, Todos los Santos.Hanal Pixan
Photo courtesy Xcaret
In the Maya area, Day of the Dead celebrations are called Hanal Pixan. One of the distinctive aspects about the way the Maya celebrate Day of the Dead is by preparing special foods for the occasion, like mucbipollo, which is a type of large tamal which is cooked in an underground pit.
