All Souls' Day
The following guide provides Web site links, a list of selected books, and access to online periodical articles about this subject. The Web site links have been researched, evaluated, and annotated by Rio Hondo College Librarians. The Librarians have specifically selected these Web sites to meet the research needs of Rio Hondo College students

go to   Web Site Links        Online Databases (RHC Students only)        Books        WebCat        Media        Articles       

Text-only version for printing     

Web Site Links     top

All About the Feast of All Souls : All Souls Day History, Information, Prayers, Resources, Traditions & More
http://www.churchyear.net/allsouls.html
This site provides an overview to the history and customs associated with the observance of All Souls Day.  Links are also present in the site directing users to resources for additional information and explanation.

All Souls Day
http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost12ac.html
This site covers various customs around the world associated with All Souls Day.  Readings regarding this feast day are also included on this site.

All Souls Day
http://all-souls-day.123holiday.net/
An explanation about the origin and meaning of All Souls Day is given on this site.   The different customs around the world regarding the observance of this feast day are also detailed here.

Day of the Dead = Día de los Muertos
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/feature/daydeadindex.html
MexConnect magazine provides this site of Day of the Dead.  Links, articles, pictures of the festival.

Day of the Dead Cultural Articles
http://inside-mexico.com/dayofthedeadarticles.htm
Listing of article about Day of the Dead.  Articles, links, as well as crafts, lesson plans and activities for classrooms.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) : History
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/
History, culture and customs of the Day of the Dead, provided by azcentral.com, an Arizona news and culture source.

Los Dias de los Muertos/The Days of the Dead in Mexico
http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/news/vol_7/issue3/96falp10.htm
North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts.  Journal article from 1996, with sections on historical and cultural background, preparations, traditional practices, and suggested activities for students.

History of All Souls Day
http://www.theholidayspot.com/all_souls_day/history.htm
The origin, development over the years, and practices related to All Souls Day are covered on this site.  Links are provided to customs, crafts, recipes, and quotes regarding this feast day.

Jose Guadalupe Posada : His Life and Times
http://www.carnaval.com/dead/posada.htm
Biography and pictures of Posada's work.  Posada produced popular images of the Day of the Dead, and made satirical sketches of contemporary figures with calaveras.  He made popular the La Catrina, an elegant lady calavera who became one of the symbols of the holiday.

Myth*ing links' : Mexico's Dia de los Muertos : Novembef first and second
http://www.mythinglinks.org/DayOfDead.html
Collection of links about Day of the Dead, updated regularly.

Olvera Street : Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
http://www.olvera-street.com/html/dia_de_los_muertos.html
Olvera Street, Los Angeles, sit for the holiday.  Complete site with bibliography, pictures, and links.

What do Mexicans celebrate on the "Day of the Dead?" / Ricardo J. Salvidor
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html
Description of the holiday with brief history.

Books     top
The following books can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library.

Reference Books (2nd floor)
Non-circulating:

Holiday symbols and customs
Call number: Ref GT3930.T48 2003

The Mexican day of the dead : an anthology
Call number: Ref GT4995.A4M49 1994

The skeleton at the feast : the Day of the Dead in Mexico
Call number : Ref GT4995.A4C37 1992

Suggested Subject Headings
For additional titles on this topic at Rio Hondo, click on the following Library of Congress subject headings:

All Souls' Day

Mexico--Religious life and customs

WebCat     top
Use the box below to search for additional resources in Rio Hondo College Library.

Media     top
The following media can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library, to be viewed in the Library.

Food for the ancestors
Call number: Video 000552
Explores the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead and teaches the significance of 500-year-old traditions in the state of Puebla. We learn of the Cholula ruins, see fields of "the flower of 400 petals," and learn of medicinal herbs in a bustling marketplace. Focuses on folk arts related to the celebration, such as weaving, pottery, dance, and preparation of special foods including Sugar Skull candies, pulque, Bread of the Dead, and Mole Poblano.

La Ofrenda : the Days of the Dead
Call number: Video 000988
Presents a non-traditional look at the ceremonies and rituals observed in the Mexican culture, in both Mexico and the U.S., to celebrate the Days of the Dead (Nov. 1 & 2).

Articles   top
The Rio Hondo College Library provides online access to full-text articles through our online databases.  Please note:  you must be a Rio Hondo College student, faculty, staff or board member to use these services.

The sample searches and articles below are from the ProQuest database.  If you are viewing this subject guide from an on-campus computer, simply click on the links below.   To gain access if you are at home or off-campus, first click here: https://rioweb.rh.cc.ca.us/library/.  Input your student number [SSN] and password [your birthdate].  You will see a list of  all the online databases to which you have access.  Click on ProQuest and enter the database.  You may conduct your own searches at this point or come back to this subject guide and click on any of the links below:

Researched and evaluated by:
C. Oldham, Librarian 10/2006
last update: D. Banton, Librarian 11/2007

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