| A | B |
|---|
| alfenique | a special confection used to fashion skulls, fruits and other figures. |
| altar de muertos | the offering that family and/or friends prepare for their dead loved ones |
| angelitos | the souls of the children who have died, literally "little angels" |
| arco | decorated arch sometimes placed on the graves or on the altar de muertos |
| atole | an ancient drink made from corn meal and water flavored with various fruits. |
| calacas | whimsical skeleton figures that represent death |
| calavera | a skull, also a slang term for "daredevil" |
| calaveras | songs and poems about the festival |
| calaveritas de azúcar | sugar skulls made for the Día de los Muertos |
| careta | mask worn by dancers to scare the dead away at the end of the celebrations |
| catrina | Famed Día de los Muertos artist José Guadalupe Posada's icon of death. Catrina means: a wealthy woman, it is said in a sarcastic manner. |
| cempazuchitl | a yellow marigold, the symbol of death, also known as Cempasuchil or zempasuchitl |
| copalli | a scented resin used to make incense |
| Día de los Muertos | Day of the Dead |
| golletes | A doughnut shaped bread, glazed with pink colored sugar that is placed on the altar. |
| Iluminación | The ceremony that takes place in the cemetary, where hundreds of candles are lighted to guide the souls to their altars. |
| mole | a thick sauce made from a variety of ingredients including chilis, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, chocolate/fruit. |
| ofrenda | an offering, refers to the goods set out on the altars |
| pan de los muertos | bread of the dead |
| papel picado | colorful tissue paper with intricate, festive designs cut out |
