Day of the Dead Vocabulary
Día de los Muertos
the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 1 to remember the children in our lives who have passed, while Nov. 2 is reserved for adults.
los difuntos
the deceased loved ones are commemorated as a reminder to celebrate life.
la Catrina
the name of the female skeleton image dressed in upper class European garb and is most famously associated with this day.
el altar
the altar or shrine for the deceased installed at home with many offerings.
las ofrendas
the offerings, placed on top of the altar, consist of traditional items like flowers and candles; as well as items the deceased loved like tequila or a food dish.
la flor de cempasúchil
the Mexican marigold is traditionally used to adorn the altars and tombs of the deceased. Cempasúchil means ‘20 petal flower’ in the Nahuatl language.
las veladoras
the candles symbolize faith and hope. Its flames guide the souls on their way.
el pan de muertos
the bread of the dead is a baked sweet bread roll eaten throughout October.
los tamales
tamales are a corn based dough filled with meats, vegetables, and/or chillies then wrapped in a leaf and steamed.
el atole
a hot corn drink with added notes of cinnamon, vanilla, fruits, and/or chocolate.
las calaveritas de azúcar
sugar skulls are decorative skulls made of sugar and can be used as offerings.
las tumbas
the tombs of the deceased are visited and decorated with marigolds while eating dinner, listening to mariachis, telling stories, and celebrating with others.
Mexican people have a very humorous and creative way of talking about death. Here are a few common phrases that reference death in this way.
La Catrina al muerto se va a llevar, pero en la fiesta se va a quedar.
The Catrina may take the deceased, but they’re still staying to party.
La muerte está tan segura de alcanzarnos que nos da toda una vida de ventaja.
Death is so sure to catch up to us that it gives us our entire life as a head start.
Buen amor y buena muerte, no hay mejor suerte.
Good love and good death, there’s no better luck.
Hay que vivir sonriendo, para morir contentos.
Let’s live smiling so we can die happy.
El muerto a la sepultura y el vivo a la travesura.
The dead to the grave and the living to mischief.
Antes muerta que sencilla.
I’d rather be dead than a basic bitch.
Bendita la muerte cuando viene después de buen vivir.
Blessed is death when it comes after a life well lived.
Ya colgó los tenis.
He kicked the bucket. (lit. He hung up his tennis shoes.)
Sobre mi cadáver.
Over my dead body.
Vive y deja morir.
Live and let die.
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