About the Symbolic Monarch Migration FALL How to Participate Over 65,000 paper butterflies were made last fall by children in the United States and Canada, and sent to the children who live beside the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico. These Symbolic Monarch ambassadors will come back next spring and "migrate" back to classrooms when the actual monarchs begin their journey north. The butterflies' fall flight is timed to correspond with the real monarchs' journey south. The paper butterflies arrive in Mexico around the time of the Dia de los Muertos (November 2), just as the real monarchs do. According to Mexican legend, these returning butterflies are thought to carry the ancestors' souls and play a role in the Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Mexican students from the sanctuary region greet the butterflies and watch over them during the winter months. At the same time in the mountains nearby, the entire eastern population of North American monarch butterflies are resting in Mexico for the winter. Sometime next March, when the real monarchs' departure from Mexico is announced, the paper butterflies will return. The butterflies will carry a special message from the Mexican students to the students in Canada and U. S. who made them. Please Join Us! Your participation in this symbolic event represents tremendous international support for the monarch! Don't Miss the Trip! Postmark Deadline for Migrating Monarchs: October 12, 2007 Follow Journey North News! Watch A Video Make A Symbolic Monarch Send Your Monarch to Mexico Checklist Print, Follow and Mail (so your butterflies can migrate) Ambassador Lessons: the Spirit and Objectives Look At the Symbolic Migration Photo Gallery This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2008 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.