Festival of the Day of the Dead - Artwork by P3

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a two-day festival that takes place every November 1 and 2. Although most strongly identified with Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Latin America to remember deceased loved ones.

Dia de los Muertos honours the dead with festivals and lively celebrations. The festival combines  Aztec traditions with Catholicism, brought to the region by Spanish explorers. Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, important dates in the Catholic calendar. Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life.

The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos are the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

The Primary 3 children had lots of fun creating skulls with clay, decorating their Day of the Dead masks and learning about different countries, cultures and festivals around the world.

Have a look at the children's amazing art work in the video below!