Thursday, October 29, 2009 Bread of the Dead - Pan de Muerto
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The Day of the Dead, or
Dia de Los Muertos, represents the melding of an old Aztec
tradition with the religion of the Conquistadors. The
celebration is actually a two day feast that coincides with the
Catholic observance of All Saint's and All Soul's days. The
first day of the celebration occurs on the 1st of November. It's
called the Day of the Little Angels and it is set aside to
remember children who have died. The second day is set aside to
honor adults who have passed to the next life. It is important
to understand that these are days of celebration rather than
days of mourning. In homes that observe Dia de los Muertos,
altars are built containing symbols of the four elements: fire,
water, wind and earth. They are beautifully decorated and,
because many believe that the deceased visit their homes during
this celebration, food is placed on the altar to entice them to
stay for the festivities. Feasting is an