Requirements:
DIAS DE LOS MUERTOS
C/S/A complete 10
Jr complete 8
Brownie complete 6
Días de los Muertos is an ancient, Mexican and Mexican American religious holiday, with a historically rich tradition that integrates Catholic customs. It is often celebrated in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic Holy Days of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The holiday is spread over two days. November 1 is Dia de los Inocentes, honoring children who have died. Graves are decorated with white orchids and baby's breath. November 2 is Dia de los Muertos, honoring adults, whose graves are decorated with bright orange marigolds.
Here are 12 activities to help you learn more.
Using this recipe, or a recipe from your own family celebrations make your own loaf of “pan de muerto”
· 4 ounces butter (at room temperature)
· 3/4 cup sugar (white)
· 3 teaspoons aniseed (whole)
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 6 cups flour (white bread or all-purpose), divided
· 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
· 1 1/4 cups warm water (not to exceed 110 F)
· 2 tablespoons orange zest
· 2 (1/4-ounce) packets instant dry yeast
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, sugar, aniseed, salt, and 1/2 cup of the flour.
Use the dough hook to mix the ingredients until they begin to come together
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, water, and orange zest.
Add this to the stand mixer bowl, along with another 1/2 cup of the flour. Mix until combined.
Add the yeast and another 1/2 cup of flour, mixing to combine.
Add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time, mixing between additions, until a dough forms.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface about knead it for 1 minute.
Cover it with a clean, damp dishcloth and let rise in a warm area for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Separate about 1/4 of the dough and use it to make bone shapes to drape across the loaf.
Shape the rest of the dough into a flat-bottomed semi-sphere. Position the bone shapes on the top of the loaf and press gently so they adhere. Let the dough rise for an additional hour.
Bake the loaf in a 350 F oven for about 40 minutes (30 minutes for smaller loaves).
Clay molded sugar figures of angels, sheep and sugar skulls go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers.
Practice making and decorating your own sugar skulls.
Do not make sugar skulls on a rainy or high humidity day. They will not turn out.
Meringue Powder is a MUST and cannot be omitted.
Most people prefer white skulls the first time they make them, but if you'd like colored sugar skulls, add paste food coloring TO THE WATER.
For a 5 pound bag of sugar, use 1/4 cup meringue powder and 10 teaspoons of water. Yield 5 large skulls or 20 medium skulls or 100 mini skulls or any combination.
Mix well with hands until every bit of sugar is moistened. If your fingerprints remain when you squeeze the sugar in your hand, it is ready to mold. It should feel like cool "beach sand."
Pack sugar mixture FIRMLY into mold with special attention to chins & edges. Use a straight edge to scrape the back of the mold flat. Pack down some more until perfectly tight.
Place a stiff cardboard over mold and invert immediately. Lift mold off carefully. Throw any "mistakes" back into your bowl, stir up and try again. If mix is too dry, spritz with a water bottle.
Royal Icing for decorating
Mix 2/3 cup water, 1/2 cup meringue powder and 2 pounds powdered sugar with an electric/stand mixer until icing peaks (about 9 minutes!) Don't mix up more than 2 pounds at a time. Keep in a tightly covered container. DO NOT REFRIGERATE. Color with gel food colors while mixing if desired.
Design your own Dia de los muertos costume. Share it with your group and discuss why you chose those particular design elements for your costume?
Do some research on what role Papel picado plays in the day of the dead celebrations.
Gather some supplies and make your own Papel picado banner.
It is common for people to confuse the two celebrations or even think that they are the same celebration, but with a different name. This simply isn’t the case. While the two do share some similar aspects they are quite different. Together with your group, make a comparison chart for Dia de los Muertos vs. Halloween. List the differences in date, purpose, celebrations, symbols, food, and religious background. Discuss your findings.
11) Visit a local cultural arts center or festival hosting day of the dead celebrations. Speak with the people there about the different ways that they celebrate Dia de los Muertos and what the holiday means to them.
12) Now that you know more about The Day of the Dead, its cultural significance, its traditions and practices, put your knowledge to work. Together with your group, host a Dia de los muertos celebration for your friends and family.