| Keyword |
Description |
| Ofrenda |
A table or altar with gifts for spirits |
| Marigold |
Orange flower that helps guide loved ones’ spirits |
| Pan de muerto |
Sweet bread made for Day of the Dead |
Every year in Mexico, families celebrate the Day of the Dead to remember people and pets that they love who have died. Homes and streets are decorated with bright orange marigold flowers, candles, and colorful paper. People build a special altar called an ofrenda and put pictures, tasty food, sweet bread called pan de muerto, and other gifts to welcome the spirits of their loved ones. This day is happy, not sad—it’s a time to sing, play, and tell good stories about people who are no longer here. Many families also go to the cemetery, decorate graves with flowers, and light candles, believing that for a short time, their loved ones can come back and visit.
Some things that are very important on Day of the Dead are the marigold flowers, which guide the spirits home, the ofrenda, which is a loving gift, and pan de muerto, a special bread made just for the holiday. Skeletons like La Catrina are seen everywhere, dressed in fancy clothes to show that remembering is special and can even be fun. By celebrating this way, families show that love and memories last forever.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| To decorate |
Decorar |
| Cementery |
Cementerio |
| To visit |
Visitar |
Time to discuss
- Why do you think families like to remember people who are gone?
- What would you put on your own ofrenda?
- How can we help each other remember happy times together?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Write about a happy day you spent with your family.
- If you could meet someone from the past on Day of the Dead, who would you choose and why?
