Dia De Los Muertos

Zach was assigned a cultural awareness project in his Spanish class to create a Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) memory box. The memory box is a tradition in Mexico to honor and commemorate a loved one who has died. The box is traditionally covered with flowers and customized with items you identify with the person. Zach chose to honor his Great Aunt Lillian who passed away earlier this year. 

Zach decorated his box with bright orange and yellow flowers. 

We then filled the box with items that we associated with her. A picture if she and Uncle Xharlie when they were first married. A picture of Aunt Lillian with family in a frame that shows that she loved cats. 

We included a puzzle piece charm because she loved to work jigsaw puzzles. A tiny beer mug was included as she loved to have a tiny beer once in a while! We also added a nod to her famous and fabulous country green beans which she always brought to the annual Kunze-Hobson Thanksgiving feast. Lastly, we have the American flag colors as she and a Uncle Charlie were part of the Greatest Generation and loved their country.  

Creating the memory box was a great way for the four of us to remember all of the great things about Aunt Lillian. We sure do miss her, but obviously she is in our hearts and minds! (And Derek has taken up the country green beans tradition in her honor!).