The Day of the Dead

WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE DEAD?

In Mexico the Day of the Dead, also know as All Saints Day, is celebrated on the first couple days of November in honour and commemoration of family members and friends that have deceased.

Some of the characteristic details that highlight this tradition include incense made out of a flower called copal, bread called “bread of the Dead” and cempasuchil, which is the “flower of the Dead” and sugar candy in the shape of skulls. These details create an ensemble that fascinates all of the senses.

One week before the celebration, families buy and collect flowers, candles, skull-shaped candy, incense and foods. These items are then placed as offers on altars that they make in their homes in hope that the deceased will come to savor them. The offers include mezcal, chocolate and Oaxacan mole. The altars also have arcs made of cempasuchil flowers that symbolize the door that opens to the other world.In most parts of Mexico, the celebration lasts two days.

The first day of November commemorates children and the following day is for adults. Some families reunite in cemeteries to dine together and they spend the night in vigil at the cemetery next to the tombs of their family members and friends. Everyone places an offer on the tombs and altars, because it is said that the spirits get angry and punish those that don’t place offers.

Oaxaca International Language School would like to invite you to enjoy this unique experience!. Here are the promotional packages we are offering for this celebration.

PROMOTIONAL PACKAGE FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD

• - 20 hours of Spanish classes that includes interesting conversations about the festivities of The Day of the Dead
• - Workshop on how to prepare Oaxacan mole and we’ll enjoy dinner with all the students.
• - Trip to the biggest local market to buy food, flowers and other objects to place on the altar for the Dead at the school.
• - Excursion to the biggest pantheon in the city on October 31st at 19:00 hrs.
• - Trip to see the exposition of altars at the Palace Municipal
• - Lodging for seven nights with an Oaxacan family, which includes two meals at day
  

PROMOTIONAL PACKAGE OF FOUR WEEKS, INCLUDING THE DAY OF THE DEAD

• - 80 hours of Spanish classes with interesting conversations about the festivities of the Day of the Dead and other Mexican topics.
• - Workshops on how to prepare Oaxacan mole, Oaxaca cuisine and how to make corn tortillas.
• - Trip to the biggest local market to buy food, flowers and other objects to place on the altar for the Dead at the school.
• - Excursion to the biggest pantheon in the city on October 31 st at 8:00 p.m.
• - Trip to see the exposition of the altars at the Palace Municipal.
• - Lodging for four weeks with a Oaxacan family, which includes two meals at day.
• - Extra-curricular activities.