Read about a traditional Mexican festival and complete the sentences below.
What comes to your mind when you hear something about a festival in Mexico? No doubt, it's 'El Día de los Muertos' — or the Day of the Dead — which is one of the most famous and colourful celebrations in the world. But you may be surprised to find out that it hadn't been so bright and spectacular until 2016 when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer invented a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City for the James Bond film "Spectre". The idea of a massive street parade and people wearing carnival costumes was also used in the Disney cartoon "Coco".
It may seem strange for American and European people that death, which is known to be something sad and dark, is celebrated so happily and brightly. But there's a reason for it: Mexican legends say that every year, the dead people's souls return to Earth to eat, drink, and have fun as they used to do when they were alive. That's why their children and grandchildren shouldn't mourn or cry on these days, but join their ancestors in a spectacular festival and prepare special offerings for them.
That's why on this day people go to cemeteries and decorate the graves of their relatives with flowers and leave special treats there: toys and sweets for children, food, and bottles of alcohol for adults. In some parts of the country (especially the cities, where in recent years ancient customs have been changed) children in carnival costumes run along the streets, knocking on people's doors and asking for a calaverita, a small gift of candies or money. This tradition is very similar to Halloween's Trick-or-Treat in the USA.
Choose the correct option.
The festival you've read about [has always been spectacular|appeared in 2016|changed because of a movie].
Death is [something dark and sad|a common part of life|not very interesting for people] in Mexican culture.
On the Day of the Dead, Mexican people don't [celebrate|mourn|eat].
Mexicans believe that dead people [aren't happy because of the carnival|can't have fun anymore|come back to us once a year].
Offering is a small gift that [people leave at the cemeteries|children ask for|people give each other].
Calaverita is [another name for offering|part of Halloween traditions|a modern Mexican tradition].