Casady Community Service-Learning Blog: November Happenings, Blue Anchor Bells

From National Geographic

Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated on November 1. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated.

Dia de los Muertos honors the dead with festivals and lively celebrations, a typically Latin American custom that combines indigenous Aztec ritualwith Catholicism, brought to the region by Spanish conquistadores. (Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, minor holidays in the Catholic calendar.)

Assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.

The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos may be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

Use the questions in the following tab (Questions) to inspire discussion about Dia de los Muertos, Latin America, colonialism, and culture.

Want to learn a little more about Dia de los Muertos? Read all about it at Nat Geo Kids!

Dia de Los Muertos at Abuela's

A meal before opening night of Mid Summer Night's Dream

This singing group, made up of military spouses from across the US, travels Oklahoma bringing back some Andrews Sisters favorites as well as Patriotic pieces and holiday music!
They enjoy sharing their music with assisted living facilities, memory care units, hospitals, and VA centers. They can also be found performing at the Oklahoma State Fair, The Rodeo Opry, The Plumb Theater, and other festivals and events across Oklahoma.

Blue Anchor Bells Performed at Chapel
Singers honoring our Veterans

Blue Anchor Bells go to Nursing Homes and bringing a little bit of their musical tunes
Interested in bringing the Blue Anchor Bells, contact them at http://www.greatmattermusic.com/blueanchorbelles