El Dia de los Muertos
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"El Dia de los Muertos", the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on November 1st and November 2nd each year. It is a very important tradition in the Mexican culture, a day when families get together to honor the memory of the deceased family members. An ofrenda table (offering) is set that includes favorite foods and items of the deceased. An important part of this tradition is the use of marigolds, sempasuchitl, as they are called in Mexico in the Indian tradition. It is believed that the strong scent of the marigolds will attract the spirits and they will be able to find their way home to partake in the ofrenda. Some times the petals of the marigolds are dropped on the road from the cemetery to the home to make it easier for the spirits to follow the scent. The marigolds from the Enchanted Garden at John F. Kennedy H.S. were an important part of our "Ofrenda" table in school and at the Annual Conference of the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers.
Dora Villani
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Updated February 15,1999 by Evagelia Bakoulis