The Day of the Dead

Both the New York Times and NY Mag provide roundups fo restaurants celebrating the Mexican festival of El Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, when the spirits of the dead return to the land of the living to eat, drink, and be merry. Traditional foods such as pan de los muertos, a sweet bread flavored with anise (you can find a recipe here if you'd like to make your own), and sugar candies in the shape of skulls are eaten to mark the occasion. Mercadito, Rocking Horse, Rosa Mexicano, and La Palapa are among the restaurants offering Dia de los Muertos specials, and they are also participants in the Mexican Restaurant tour.

To learn more about the holiday, you can read more in the companion Times article, visit Mexonline, or check out this lesson plan we found. It's for a fourth or fifth grade level, so it's just about our speed.