Afterlife - The continuation of a person's life after he or she has passed away.

Alhelies - Lily flowers used to decorate altars.

All Saints’ Day - A festival in which the Church celebrates and honors the Saints.

Altares - A platform in which religious rites are performed and can be used as an ofrenda.

Altars - See altares

Atole - a Mexican drink made out of corn flour dissolved in water or milk.

Aztecs – A Native American tribe that celebrated the Day of the Dead. They believed in different gods and traditions.

Calaveras - Sugar skulls made to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Each child makes one with his or her name on it. Three calaveras represent the trinity.

Cempasuchitl - Marigold flowers placed on the entrances of homes.

Chichihuacuauhco (chee-chee-hwa-KWAH-ooh-koh) - A place where babies and children go after they die.

Day of the Dead - A day where people celebrate and remember their dead relatives. Each year the Day of the Day is celebrated on November 2.

Dia de los Muertos - The translated name for the Day of the Dead.

Flor de Nube - Flower of the clouds which are placed on altars created for children.

Frijoles - Beans that are prepared as part of the offerings to the spirits of the Dead.

Halloween - A holiday in which children dress up and ask for candy by going door to door; commonly mistaken as el Dia de los Muertos.

Maize - The Spanish name for corn; used to prepare tamales and other foods.

Miccailhuitontli - Ninth month of the Aztec solar calendar during which the Aztecs celebrated children and the Dead. Rituals were led by the goddess
Mictecacihuatl.

Mictecacihuatl - Aztec goddess whose name means "Lady of the Dead".

Mictlan (MEEK-tlan) - The place of the dead where people who have died a natural way go to. Mictlan includes nine trials along the way.

Mole - A spicy sauce spread on chicken that is part of Mexican cooking.

Ofrenda - An offering that Mexicans are willing to give to their ancient ancestors on el Dia de los Muertos. An ofrenda could be altars, spices, and foods.

Pan de Muertos - Loaves of bread shaped like people and are used as an ofrenda.

Spanish conquistadors - Spanish priests who tried to covert Indian tribes to Christianity. They would teach them about Catholic celebrations and who give Christian teachings in hope that they would become Christian.

Tamales - A mixture of cornmeal, meat, spice, and chicken wrapped around corn husks. These are also used as part of an ofrenda.

Tianguis - Market where everything from food to flowers are sold.

Tlaloc (tla-LOK) - The Aztec god of rain and lighting; he ruled Tlalocan.

Tonatiuh (TOH-nah-TEE-ooh) - A place in the Sun where people who died violently go to.

Tortillas - A mixture made out of water and corn flour. Tortillas are used as part of the food eaten of el Dia de los Muertos.

Traditions - The handing down of customs and legends from generation to generation.

Veintenas - Festivals that were held each month to honor the gods.