Now that October is finally here, it’s time to start celebrating the holiday season and for many of us that means preparing for Día de los Muertos. But, like so many other things we’re doing in 2020 so far, adjustments will probably need to be made in the way we celebrate in order to stay safe during a global pandemic.
But COVID being a part of our daily reality doesn’t mean we need to skip out on our favorite Día de los Muertos traditions. With a little creativity as we keep those health and safety precautions in mind, we can still have fun with our kids this year.
What is Día de los Muertos?
Ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos safely
Between transitioning to virtual learning, changing their daily routines, and self-isolating, this year has included a lot of change for kids. So it’s even more important to maintain fun traditions that children look forward to each year as much as we can, while still staying safe to help maintain a sense of normalcy.
Celebrating Día de los Muertos is something that many parents do with their kids each year. “I think it’s important to teach my children about Día de los Muertos because I want them to have an understanding of their own ethnic heritage, and I want to instill a sense of pride in their culture,” Denise Cortes previously wrote for Mom.com. “We make the conscious effort to remember our loved ones who were very important parts of our lives and have passed on.”
There are many ways to take part in the holiday without risking your or your children’s health and safety. Here are a few ideas.
- Celebrate virtually with friends and family with Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime.
- Bake Día de los Muertos recipes at home and create a fun feast.
- Have a family movie night and watch Disney’s Coco, or The Book of Life especially with young children.
- Read a book with your kids that celebrates Día de los Muertos.
- Build an ofrenda to memorialize loved ones.
- Make papier maché skulls and paint them or a Día de los Muertos banner to hang in your window.
Even though celebrations will be different this year, they can still be a lot of fun. We can keep those Día de los Muertos celebrations alive, all while staying safe at the same time.
