Woodside School District - Día de los Muertos Ofrenda

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda

2026 Ofrenda for Día de los Muertos

School Library

Begins Wed., Oct. 28

This year we are collaborating to build a schoolwide ofrenda (altar with offerings) for Día de los Muertos in the library. Starting on Wednesday, Otober 28, the display will be up through the first two weeks of November and organized by Spanish teacher Ms. Brown, 1st grade teacher Ms. Webber and Librarian Ms. LaCrosse.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a vibrant Mexican holiday celebrated from October 31 through November 2 where families honor their loved ones that have passed on. Rather than a time of mourning, it is a colorful, festive celebration of life and memory that recognizes death as a natural phase of the human experience.

Quick overview: Dia de los muertos
Book List for Día de los Muertos
Links to more titles

Origins and History

The holiday has a rich history spanning over 3,000 years, blending indigenous traditions with European customs:

Indigenous Roots: It originated in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica with the Aztecs and Toltecs, who viewed the universe cyclically and held rituals honoring ancestors and the goddess of the underworld, Mictēcacihuātl.
Spanish Influence: In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors brought Roman Catholicism to the region. Indigenous communities resisted total cultural assimilation by blending their traditional ancestor rituals with Catholic holy days—specifically All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
Global Recognition: Today, the holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico, the United States, and worldwide. In 2008, it was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.