Latin-American culture

Today we will talk about a classical of the Spanish literature, Don Quixote, fully titled ¨The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha¨, “El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha” in Spanish. This novel was written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. It is considered one of the greatest works of fiction ever published and the best literary work every written. It is a book that we definitely recommend. It follows the adventures of a hidalgo –a hidalgo was a member of the Spanish nobility without title, hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes but who did not necessarily own real property– Alfonso Quijano, and Sancho Panza as his squire.

The author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra(1547-1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet and playwright, his influence on the Spanish language has been so great that the Spanish language is often called “la lengua de Cervantes” (“The language of Cervantes”). The the 23 of April, 1616 is recorded in may references as the date of the death of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. William Shakespeare also died on the 23rd of April, 1616, to honor this, UNESCO stablished the 23rd of April as the International Day of the Book, El Día Internacional del Libro.

Book: Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfeFo6Rgquw[/youtube]

The day of the dead is a holiday celebrated across Latin-American countries and other cultures. In countries like Mexico, this celebration is considered a bank holiday. On the day of the dead family members get together to remember friends and family member who have died. On the 2nd of November, most people visit the cemetery to clean and decorate the graves of the loved ones who have departed.

In some places people refer to the 31st of October as the day of the little angels or ¨Día de los angelitos¨ and they remember kids and infants who have died, the 1st of November as the day of all the saint ¨Día de todos los santos¨, they remember adults , and the 2nd of November as the All Soul Day or ¨Día de las animas o día de muertos¨ people visit the grave of the love ones who have departed at the cemetery.

In this celebration the family and friends of the deceased build an altar at their home and on the 2nd of November visit the cemetery and decorate the graves of the departed at the cemetery. These altars, called “ofrendas” in Spanish, honour the deceased with sugar skulls, marigolds and his/her favourite food, fruits and beverages. These “ofrendas” are also decorated with pictures and personal possessions of the deceased. Some families hire mariachis or the local “trios” to play and sing the favourite music and songs of the loved one who has departed at the cemetery. People usually bring toys and bottles of tequila, mezcal and pulque for dead adults to the cemetery.

In some parts of Mexico such as the towns of Mixquic, Patzcuaro and Janitizio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. In many places people have picnics at the grave site, as well. The belief is that on this day the soul of the person who has died is allowed to visit his/her family and the family organises and built these¨ofrendas¨to encourage the soul of the deceased to continue visiting and listen to their prays and the comments directed to them.

The most popular flower used in this celebration is the orange Mexican Marigold ¨cempasúchil¨or ¨flor de muerto¨which is believed to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.

Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed, as a joke people can give each other sugar skull with their names written on them or those with a talent for writing sometimes create short poems, called calaveras (skulls), describing interesting habits and attitudes or funny anecdotes.

[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBKn6CPKGnA[/youtube]

Spanish Literature: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Day of the dead

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