DAY OF THE DEAD ALTARS with PAAL
This workshop is designed to explore the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead, this ritual meant to honour
our ancestors with joy, and to celebrate our loved ones who have passed away. It has been declared an
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco. An explanation of this tradition will be given, along with
the meaning of the historical and decorative elements of the traditional altar, as well as some social and
political dimensions the tradition can take. The participants will create a model of the Altar of the Dead during
4 sessions (2 hrs each). We provide a teaching guide for this workshop.
Materials: Black cardboard boxes, crepe paper, punch, air-drying paste, markers, scissors, white glue,
transparent adhesive, thread, toothpicks, salt. Optional: Coloured cards, pictures or stickers to place on the
altar.
Grade Levels: Secondary Grades 7-8
Artist Profile: PAAL
Email: direction@paalmtl.org
