Analysis Of El Dia De Los Muertos: The Day Of The Dead
860456_ 214FA-SPAN-1411-THS1(Beginning Spanish I)_ 214FA_SPAN1411.THS1_ForeignLanguageWritingAssignment
Dr. Richarte
Course # 1411
27 October 2014
El dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)
While many families of different cultures often share common characteristics and customs, the history and culture of the Hispanic family is significantly different from the typical American family. For example, it is common for multiple generations of a Hispanic family to live under one roof, while in American culture; it is typically just the parents and the children. In addition, when a female of Hispanic descent reaches the age of 15, she is considered an adult and a formal celebration called a quinceanera is held in her honor. On birthdays for Hispanic children, the parents hang up piñatas in the trees and challenge their children try to break it open with a stick blindfolded. Holidays and traditions also can be very diverse. A typical American family observes …show more content…
Although they are both holidays based on death and are observed within a day of each other, the way people celebrate them are significantly different. One of the differences between the two is that Halloween is mainly celebrated by small children while The Day of the Dead is celebrated by Hispanic people of all ages. Halloween is celebrated as a spooky, creepy holiday, in contrast, The Day of the Dead is a reflective day that expresses love. When the typical American is outside “trick-or-treating” which is “an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats” (History of Halloween), throwing bonfire parties, or going to haunted houses, a typical religious Hispanic family would be setting up altars in their homes or gong to “visit the gravesite and pull weeds, clean any debris and decorate the graves of loved ones”
Dr. Richarte
Course # 1411
27 October 2014
El dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)
While many families of different cultures often share common characteristics and customs, the history and culture of the Hispanic family is significantly different from the typical American family. For example, it is common for multiple generations of a Hispanic family to live under one roof, while in American culture; it is typically just the parents and the children. In addition, when a female of Hispanic descent reaches the age of 15, she is considered an adult and a formal celebration called a quinceanera is held in her honor. On birthdays for Hispanic children, the parents hang up piñatas in the trees and challenge their children try to break it open with a stick blindfolded. Holidays and traditions also can be very diverse. A typical American family observes …show more content…
Although they are both holidays based on death and are observed within a day of each other, the way people celebrate them are significantly different. One of the differences between the two is that Halloween is mainly celebrated by small children while The Day of the Dead is celebrated by Hispanic people of all ages. Halloween is celebrated as a spooky, creepy holiday, in contrast, The Day of the Dead is a reflective day that expresses love. When the typical American is outside “trick-or-treating” which is “an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats” (History of Halloween), throwing bonfire parties, or going to haunted houses, a typical religious Hispanic family would be setting up altars in their homes or gong to “visit the gravesite and pull weeds, clean any debris and decorate the graves of loved ones”