Cultural Holiday Essay

Submitted By KaelanJC12
Words: 726
Pages: 3
Open Document
Kaelan CrisostoCommunication 1A
Mrs. CataldoOctober 14, 2014
Dia de los MuertosAttention Getter: Imagine your deceased loved ones could come down from wherever they may be to be with you for 24 hours. That’s the basic idea of Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead in Mexico.
Thesis Statement: Showing your loved ones spirits a great deal of respect and love is the reason behind the celebration. According to my work cited 1, people who celebrate this holiday believe that happy spirits will provide protection, good luck, and wisdom to their family.
Preview of Main Points: I will cover the basic idea of this interesting holiday, how it is celebrated today, and some of the many offerings and rituals performed.
Main Point One: Many religions and cultures celebrate death in various ways. You may think this is a dark and sad holiday from the name Day of the Dead, however, it is actually a very happy and celebratory day.
Sub Point: This holiday started in pre Columbian times, and is celebrated in numerous latin countries the most famous being Mexico. People believe the gates of heaven open at midnight on October 31st and are open for 2 days.
Sub Point: Spirits of deceased children are released first to be with their families for 24 hours. Following this period, the adult spirits are free to celebrate with their friends and families for another 24 hours.
Main Point Two: This holiday is unlike any in the world. You normally wouldn’t associate skulls and skeletons as celebratory decorations, but in Mexico that is exactly it. But people will sometimes save two months of their earnings to pay for all of the offerings they need to successfully please their loved ones spirits.
Sub Point: According to my work cited 2, sugar skulls and skeletons are the most recognizable and used decorations for this holiday. Also, it is not unusual for people to paint half their face as a skull as a way of honoring their dead. However, this is just one part of the decorations and offerings.
Sub Point: People often use food as an offering to their deceased loved ones. Pan de muerto, or day of the dead bread, is the most infamous delectable and is widely used throughout Mexico. In addition to food, flowers indigenous to the area are commonly used as decoration pieces. Now people generally set these offerings up in either one or both of these ways. You can decorate the loved ones grave and tombstone with your items, or you can build an altar usually in your home to commemorate their spirit.
Main Point Three: Today this holiday has turned into at least a month long preparation in some areas. Between saving money, making offerings, and traveling to your destination you must prepare!
Sub Point: According to my work cited 3, often times bakeries and restaurants will switch from making everyday foods to more historical
Show More

Related Documents: Cultural Holiday Essay

Da De Los Muertos Research Paper

Los Muertos,” or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday to acknowledge and honor loved ones who have passed away. This holiday coincides more with Catholicism, where other Catholic holidays take place around the same time. The true meaning is the belief that the spirits of the deceased return and live on Earth, so instead of fearing death, it is embraced as something that is a part of the natural human experience. I chose this unique holiday because even though I am Mexican we lean more towards…

Words 842 - Pages 4

Cinco De Mayo Research Paper

Mexican holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French at Puebla on May 5, 1862 (Hayes-Bautista, p. 11). However, while Cinco de Mayo is primarily a Mexican holiday, it is scarcely celebrated in Mexico (Hayes-Bautista, p. 11). Conversely, it is widely celebrated not only in twenty-first-century California, but across the entire United States as a whole (Hayes-Bautista, p. 11). Ultimately, this is due to a lack of the public’s knowledge as to the historical background of the holiday; which…

Words 1443 - Pages 6

Columbus Day Research Paper

1892 when the first Columbus Day was celebrated, controversies behind the national holiday have been recurring through conversions and debates. When President Benjamin Harris proclaimed Columbus Day as a national holiday, many things in the previous years made the formation of this national holiday come to be. Although Columbus was able to start the first recorded history in the Americas, Columbus bought many cultural, spiritual, and economic differences from Europe. These differences affected the…

Words 692 - Pages 3

Mexican Culture Research Paper

Elements of Intercultural Communication. Jason Mossman March 3, 2024 Understanding Mexican Culture: History, Values, and Communication Patterns. Mexican culture derives from centuries of records, various traditions, and a rich cultural historical past. It is a colorful mosaic formed by indigenous civilizations, colonialism, and modern struggles; all reflecting the resilience, creativity, and spirit of its people. This paper will take a deeper dive into various elements of Mexican…

Words 1016 - Pages 5

Halloween Origin Country

recognized holiday that is celebrated on the last day of October annually. The holiday has adapted with time and tradition and has managed to stick around for at least 2,000 years. But where in the world did Halloween originate? Halloween Origin Country There has been a lot of debate about the origin country of Halloween, because Halloween didn’t just appear in a region, it appeared in a culture. Halloween first appeared 2,000 years ago with the Celtic people. The Celts were a cultural group that…

Words 525 - Pages 3

Culture: African American and Cultural Background Summary Essays

My cultural background summary will highlight the different sources that have contributed to my cultural background. I will also speculate on the extent to which my current identity has been molded by assimilation and acculturation. African American culture derived from slavery and helped contribute significantly to the development of my culture known today as American culture. Included in the holidays are music, a Christian influence, food, and art. My grandmother decorated every holiday, cooked…

Words 419 - Pages 2

Thanksgiving Appropriation

Introduction The American holiday of Thanksgiving, which is often portrayed as a peaceful gathering of Pilgrims and Native Americans, has a long history of appropriation on destruction of indigenous folk traditions. Despite efforts to present a more accurate story, the widely held Thanksgiving myth continues, promoting harmful stereotypes and erasing indigenous peoples' true experiences. This essay will look at the origins of Thanksgiving, analyze its appropriation and portrayal, and propose ways…

Words 1027 - Pages 5

The Harlem Renaissance: Duke Ellington And Billie Holiday

The Harlem Renaissance was one of the most social, cultural, and artistic times in history. During this time black people finally had a place to express themselves and create a cultural center in the great neighborhood of Harlem. African American music took over with so many talented singers, musicians and performers. Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday were huge stars and had a huge influence on the music industry. Even years later, these two musicians make and influence the music world all over the…

Words 413 - Pages 2

The Value Of Cultural Identity

Point of View & Cultural Identity Cultural identity is the identity or feeling of belonging in a group. It is a part of a person’s self-conception and self-perception, and is related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture. Cultural identity is important. It is a huge part of our lives. It shapes who we are and how we see the world. One person may not see the world one way and another person does because…

Words 720 - Pages 3

Mardi Gras Research Paper

Caleb Muse Seohye Kwon ENGL 2000 March 10 2024 Cultural Event Review Last Tuesday, a wide variety of colors emerged, signaling the arrival of Mardi Gras. I could feel the excitement in the air; it was an energy that seemed to flow through my entire body. The flashing neon lights shimmered and seemed to dance to the beat of the music with a mesmerizing effect, immediately giving me goosebumps. Mardi Gras has always been one of my favorite times of the year in New Orleans, but probably for a different…

Words 1185 - Pages 5