Commemorating A Tradition Like Memorial Day

Article from Provo Daily Herald--

Much like Memorial Day in the United States, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have a three-day celebration called Dia de los Muertos remembering family and friends who have died.

The celebration begins on Oct. 31 and goes to Nov. 2 each year. Family members build and decorate altars with pictures, flowers and favorite foods of the deceased. Family and friends often spend the days praying and singing.

"It's very much like a family reunion," said Arly Diaz, owner of Delipan Bakery in Provo.



One of the common foods of the holiday is Pan de Muerto, or Bread of the Dead, which is a sweetened soft bread shaped like a bun and decorated with a cross symbolizing bones. Even though the bread is eaten at other times of the year, they enjoy it dipped in chocolate for the holiday.

The holiday is often mistaken as similar to the United States celebration of Halloween because it occurs near the same time, but they are quite different. Dia de los Muertos is very much a celebration and a time for parties. The first day of the celebration is usually to honor the death of babies or children and is called "Day of the Little Angels." The second day is to honor adults, and is the "Day of the Dead."

Researchers have traced the observance of the holidays back thousands of years.

Pan de Muerto

Recipe from "Look What We Brought You From Mexico!"

Ingredients

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup (half a stick) margarine or butter, cut into 8 pieces

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup very warm water

2 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour, unsifted

1/2 teaspoon anise seed

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons sugar

Bring milk to boil and remove from heat. Stir in margarine or butter, 1/4 cup sugar and salt.

In large bowl, mix yeast with warm water until dissolved and let stand five minutes. Add the milk mixture.

Separate the yolk and white of one egg. Add the yolk and the other egg to the yeast mixture, but save the white for later. Now add flour to the yeast and egg. Blend well until dough ball is formed.

Flour a pastry board or work surface very well and place the dough in center. Knead until smooth. Return to large bowl and cover with dish towel. Let rise in warm place for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Knead dough again on floured surface. Now divide the dough into fourths and set one fourth aside. Roll the remaining 3 pieces into "ropes."

On greased baking sheet, pinch 3 rope ends together and braid. Finish by pinching ends together on opposite side. Divide the remaining dough in half and form two "bones." Cross and lay them atop braided loaf.

Cover bread with dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix anise seed, cinnamon and 2 teaspoons sugar together. In another bowl, beat egg white lightly.

Brush top of bread with egg white and sprinkle with sugar mixture, except on cross bones. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.