Día de muertos
Day of the Dead…A colorful and joy-filled festival, celebrated in many Latin American countries on Nov 1-2, to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away.
Try one of these age-appropriate ways to explore this colorful festival with your aventurero/a!
Ask: how is it similar or different to to the Halloween traditions in our culture?*
Bake some Day of the Dead bread (pan de muerto) to enjoy with hot chocolate or make some atole, a special drink often enjoyed at this festival.
Make festive colorful wall hangings (or papel picado ) using this template (either print on colored paper or print and color yourself!) - or try the authentic (more challenging) way with scissors!
Have fun coloring calaveras (skulls) using coloring by number
Older kids may enjoy making a shoebox altar or an altar in a jar for a loved one whom they remember
See how Guatemalans celebrate this festival with incredible hand-made kites!
Read or watch a read-aloud of two of my favorite childrens’ storybooks about Día de los muertos, by Bob Barner or by Roseanne Greenfield Thong! Both available to rent at dmpl.org!
Watch the movie Coco (PG), if age-appropriate
Watch a video that explains what kind of things families gather and do to honor and remember their loved ones (please preview video to ensure it is age-appropriate for your child)
Community events around Des Moines
Día de muertos at the Des Moines Arts Center
making flores de papel (paper flowers) with artist Justin Favela
memorial presentation online honoring local Latinx Iowans
Día de Muertos at Des Moines Public Libraries
October 25-31: Pick up a Day of the Dead Activity Kit with the Des Moines Art Center, All Locations
October 28-November 3: Día de Muertos Ofrenda, East Side Library
November 1-2: Day of the Dead Suncatchers, South Side Library
November 1: Day of the Dead Luminaries / Día de Muertos Luminarias, Franklin Avenue Library
Important: You know your child best! If you feel that your child is not ready to see the joy behind the skeletons, skulls and the cemetery, then save this for when he/she is older! Or, just focus on crafts and books that you feel are age and stage appropriate to your child. Enjoy to their level!
*Olivia says: “At Halloween we carve Jack o’Lanterns and sometimes it is spooky. But I think that Día de muertos is a happy festival! It’s not scary or sad”. :-)