Central Middle Spanish Class Celebrates Culture, Language & Community

Señora Charlene Scott's Spanish language classes at Central Middle School in Parsippany recently learned about the Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos, a celebration in Mexico and many other Spanish-speaking countries that takes place on the first and second of November.

During this two-day holiday, believed to reunite the living and dead, family and friends gather to pay their respects, remembering loves ones who have passed through ofrendas (offerings/altars). These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, candles, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits, as departed souls smell their favorite foods and join in the celebrations. Day of the Dead is a rare holiday for celebrating death and life where mourning the deceased is exchanged for celebrating their lives.

The classes discussed the holiday, the Mexican traditions, and created crafts that, brought together, created CMS ofrendas in the school. This year, CMS' 6th grade students were invited to create memorial candles to honor family members, celebrities, or pets that have passed. The 7th grade students and Spanish Club members colored and decorated sugar skulls to decorate the altars. And, 8th grade students created shoebox ofrendas to commemorate a deceased celebrity, family member, or pet.

The creations are on display until November 11 to allow parents and guardians to see them during school conferences, and photos are provided below.

Photos and this writeup of the holiday and class projects are shared courtesy of Señora Scott.