Day of the Dead Vocabulary

1. Offerings (Ofrendas)
a. Ofrendas are important to Day of the Dead. People create altars to hold candles, photos, and
belongings of the dead.
i. “Can you tell me what offerings means?”
b. Picture
i. “Can you tell me what offerings means?”
c. Examples: candles, photos, food, decorations, flowers, and things that belonged to the dead.
i. “Can you tell me what offerings means?”
d. What does it mean?
i. Things that are gifts to honor those who have passed away
ii. “Can you use offerings in a sentence?” (If given the def.)
e. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
2. Altars (Altars)
a. Ofrendas are important to Day of the Dead. People create altars to hold candles, photos, and
belongings of the dead.
i. “Can you tell me what altars means?”
b. Picture
i. “Can you tell me what altars means?”
c. Altars include pictures of family members who have died.
i. “Can you tell me what altars means?”
d. What does it mean?
i. Tables set up with offerings that honor people.
ii. “Can you use altars in a sentence?” (if given the def.)
e. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
3. Skulls (Calaveras)
a. Skeletons and colorful calaveras smile out of windows.
i. “Can you tell me what calaveras means?”
b. Picture
i. “Can you tell me what calaveras means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. The bone that makes up your head.
ii. “Can you use calaveras in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
4. Cemeteries (Cementarios) (Pron—Sementarios)
a. They play music and dance in cemeteries.
i. “Can you tell me what cemeteries means?”
b. Picture
i. “Can you tell me what cemeteries means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Places where the dead are buried.
ii. “Can you use cemeteries in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
5. Christian (Cristiano) (Pron—Kress-tee’ ah-noh)
a. Today, the holiday combines old traditions with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These
Christian holidays also honor the dead.
i. “Can you tell me what Christian means?”
b. Pictures
i. “Can you tell me what Christian means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Christians are people who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Christian Bible.
Christians practice Christianity.
 ii. “Can you use Christian in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
e. All Saints’ Day (Todas los Santos) and All Souls’ Day (Todo el día de almas) (on next slide)
i. These holidays are church celebrations where people remember and celebrate people who
have died.
6. Festival (Fiesta)
a. Bells ring to call spirits to the festival.
i. “Can you tell me what festival means?”
b. Pictures
i. “Can you tell me what festival means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Festival means a celebration.
ii. “Can you use festival in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
7. Incense (Incienso) (Pron—in ci en so)
a. Bells ring to call spirits to the festival. People burn incense and put flowers on graves.
i. “Can you tell me what incense means?”
b. Picture
i. “Can you tell me what incense means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Incense are scented sticks that give off a smell when they burn.
ii. “Can you use incense in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
8. Latin America (Latinoamérica)
a. Mexico and other parts of Latin America celebrate this holiday. They call it Día de los Muertos.
i. “Can you tell me what Latin America means?”
b. Picture
i. “Can you tell me what Latin America means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Countries south of the United States where people speak Spanish and Portuguese.
ii. “Can you use Latin America in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
9. Papel Picado (punched paper)
a. People decorate altars with papel picado.
i. “Can you tell me what papel picado means?”
b. Pictures
i. “Can you tell me what papel picado means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Papel picado means punched paper. Papel picado is a decoration made from bright colors
to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
ii. “Can you use papel picado in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”
10. Traditions (Tradición)
a. Today, the holiday combines old traditions with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
i. “Can you tell me what traditions means?”
b. Pictures
i. “Can you tell me what traditions means?”
c. What does it mean?
i. Traditions are customs, ideas, and beliefs handed down from one generation to the next.
ii. “Can you use traditions in a sentence?”
d. “You have 30 seconds to draw your picture and write the word.”