Reading Passage

Name

Date

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead, or Da de los Muertos, is a festive
celebration in honor of loved ones who have died. It is celebrated
over two days: November 1 and 2. For this holiday, people make
altars in memory of family members. They decorate the altars with
art, food, photographs, candles, and flowers. The gifts placed on
the altar are called an ofrenda, or offering. These altars may be in
the familys home or at a grave site. During this holiday, it is
common for families to spend the evening at the cemetery.
There are a few important symbols you will
see in Day of the Dead celebrations. Marigolds,
known as flor de muertos, are a symbol of death.
This flower is used to decorate altars and graves.
Brightly colored papel picado is another popular
decoration for Day of the Dead. This intricatelycut tissue paper art often features humorous
skulls and skeletons. Figures of skulls and skeletons, known as calacas, are usually
cheerful. They show a happy afterlife. Decorative skulls made from sugar cane are
given as gifts to the living or placed on altars and graves to honor ancestors.
On the Day of the Dead, families put out food for the souls of dead relatives.
Common items include fresh fruit, a special bread called pan de muerto, and deceased
relatives favorite foods.

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Vocabulary
Name

Date

Day of the Dead Vocabulary

After reading the passage, use a dictionary to find the meaning of these words. Write
the definition in the space provided.
afterlife _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

ancestor ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

deceased _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

humorous _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

intricate _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

soul __________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.teachervision.com

Answer Key

Day of the Dead Vocabulary

afterlife a life that some people believe exists after death

ancestor a person who was in someone's family in past times; one of the people from
whom a person is descended

deceased no longer living

humorous causing laughter; funny

intricate having many parts; complex

soul the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many
religions is believed to live forever
Definitions will vary slightly, depending on the dictionary. These definitions come from
the Merriam-Webster Learners Dictionary at http://www.learnersdictionary.com.

2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.teachervision.com

6SDQLVK9RFDEXODU\
Name

Date

'D\RIWKH'HDG6SDQLVK9RFDEXODU\5HYLHZ
Directions: Match each Spanish word or phrase about Day of the Dead with its
description.

1. ____ Day of the Dead

a. pan de muerto

2. ____ an offering

b. papel picado

3. ____ flower of the dead

c. flor de muertos

4. ____ cut tissue paper art

d. calacas

5. ____ figures of skulls or skeletons

e. Da de los Muertos

6. ____ traditional Mexican sweet bread

f. ofrenda

for Day of the Dead

2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.teachervision.com

Answer Key

'D\RIWKH'HDG6SDQLVK9RFDEXODU\5HYLHZ
1.

Day of the Dead

a.

pan de muerto

2.

an offering

b.

papel picado

3.

flower of the dead

c.

flor de muertos

4.

cut tissue paper art

d.

calacas

5.

figures of skulls or skeletons

e.

Da de los Muertos

6.

traditional Mexican sweet bread

f.

ofrenda

for Day of the Dead

2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.teachervision.com