Students will learn the historical roots for the celebration of the Day of the Dead, which can be found in the pre-Colombian religious rituals and in Catholicism introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards. The two religions combined to create a unique blend of beliefs and rituals. Students will also learn about the prominent role death played in the lives of most ancient Mexican cultures. Death was not something to be feared or dreaded, as it was in Western society, but the spirit of the person continued to live on after the physical self ceased to exist. How the tradition of celebrating or honoring the death continues today will be discussed, so that students will develop a greater understanding of differences between death in the U.S. and death in Latin America.