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Day of the Dead Activities

Day of the Dead is a celebration that falls on November 1. This year, THE BOOK OF LIFE, is bringing the Day of the Dead to life with fun activities for the whole family.

In Central and Southern Mexico, they believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.

With most families spending up to two months of their income for the festivities, the holiday is extravagant. Each home displays beautiful altars decorated with buckets of marigolds and red cock’s combs, mounds of fruit, candles, peanuts, turkey mole, tortillas and Day of the Dead breads. Check out these fun recipes for weary spirits:

Day of the Dead Food

Toys and candies are left for the visiting spirits of children on November 1st. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets.

DOD recipes

Sugar skulls are very popular during the Day of the Dead celebrations. They are made from 50 year old molds, by artisanal sugar skull makers, for the competition at the Feria de Alfinique in Metepec, Mexico. Italian missionaries in the 17th century brought sugar art to the New World. Possibly the first sugar art was from Palermo at Easter when side altars in the Catholic Church featured sugar lambs and angels.

Mexico is abundant in sugar production, but a poor country, and unable to purchase the fancy European church decorations. The friars taught them to make sugar art. The sugar skulls represent the departed souls, with names written on the forehead and placed in the home or gravestone to honor the return of the spirit.

DOD Face Painting 1 (1)

Grab the family and have your own Day of the Dead celebration. There’s plenty of fun activities.

DOD Games

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Share a little of the tradition of Day of the Dead:

DOD -- Learn About

Wrap the festivities up with a movie–THE BOOK OF LIFE!

book of life

THE BOOK OF LIFE is a breathtaking animated comedy with a dazzling visual style, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Torn between the expectations of his family and the desires of his heart, a young man named Manolo sets off on an epic quest that spans three spectacular worlds in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village. Not your ordinary fairy tale, THE BOOK OF LIFE is a wondrous fantasy-adventure filled with magic, music, and fun! THE

BOOK OF LIFE Blu-ray™ brings culture and comedy into your home with unforgettable special features for parents and kids alike. Continue the fun with an all-new bonus short “The Adventures of Chuy”, highlighting the film’s lovable scene-stealing pet pig. Additionally, relive the musical hits from the film with the “Music Machine” featuring Latin-inspired versions of popular songs by Mumford & Sons, Radiohead, Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart, and more!

DISCLOSURE: As a Fox Home Entertainment Insider, we received a copy of THE BOOK OF LIFE Blu-ray to keep and one for this giveaway.  However, no additional compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are our own. Open to U.S. mailing addresses only.

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