DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Dear Third Graders and Parents,

Dia De Los Muertos is celebrated throughout much of the Americas. It is the day we remember and honor those who have gone before us. We honor their spirit which is still present in our lives!

In Latin America, many families create altars in their homes. This can be a special place where pictures, foods, candles, beverages, and special remembrances are placed to welcome their departed who are believed to visit these sacred spaces on All Souls Night.

Third Grade will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos in a special way. Each child is asked to bring in an “altar” to share with their classmates. This altar can be a shoe box that is transformed into a sacred space for each child’s desk. Some children have experienced the loss of a loved one. This person might be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend, neighbor, or even a pet. If your child has not experienced a personal loss, please consider making an altar for a famous person that has died that your child knows about. It might be one of our presidents, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa... anyone that your child may be familiar with and want to welcome back their Spirit in honor of Dia de los Muertos.

Here are some special items to include in your altar.

• pictures of the person,
  
• pictures of family and friends,
  
• favorite foods, toys, treats ... anything this person really loved,
  
• items from hobbies this person enjoyed.
  

Some of the Third Grade Altars will be used in our Mass celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

An example might be: for my Nana, I would include pictures of our family together when she was alive, pictures of all the people who have joined our family since she died, a grapefruit because she loved grapfruit, and a funny hat because she always wore hats. These are just a few ideas to help decorate my shoe box for an altar to honor and celebrate my Nana. See what you can come up with to honor and celebrate your person’s Spirit!