Definition
An esquela is a brief public notice announcing the death of a person. In Spanish‑speaking contexts it is traditionally published in newspapers or displayed in public places, indicating the deceased’s name, dates, and details of the burial or funeral. The term can also refer to a short triangular letter or to a printed sheet used for invitations, reminders, or other announcements.
Overview
The esquela functions as a formal means of communicating mortality information to the community. Historically, families placed esquelas in newspaper columns framed with a black “luto” (mourning) border, or affixed them to notice boards, churches, and other public venues. Modern practice often mirrors the format of obituary notices in English‑language media, though the esquela may retain distinctive visual elements such as a rectangular or triangular shape and a concise wording style. Beyond mourning notices, the word has been used for brief letters (often folded triangularly) and for printed invitation or reminder cards, though these secondary senses are less common today.
Etymology / Origin
The Spanish noun esquela derives from Latin scheda, meaning “a piece of paper, slip, or card.” The term likely entered Spanish via Italian scheda, with the Spanish phonological adaptation substituting the Latin /d/ with /l/. Early modern Spanish dictionaries record the word, and the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) continues to define it in contemporary usage.
Characteristics
- Content: Typically includes the deceased’s full name, age or dates of birth and death, date, time, and location of the funeral or burial, and occasionally a short religious or commemorative phrase.
- Format: Historically printed in black‑bordered columns (“recuadro de luto”) in newspapers; may also appear as a standalone sheet affixed to public notice boards.
- Physical Form: When used as a brief letter, the esquela was often folded into a triangular shape, giving it a distinctive appearance.
- Modern Equivalents: Functions similarly to English‑language “death notice,” “obituary,” or “funeral announcement.”
- Secondary Uses: The term can denote a short invitation or reminder card, usually printed or lithographed, though this sense is secondary to the mortuary meaning.
Related Topics
- Obituary – a biographical notice of death, often longer and more narrative in English media.
- Death notice – a concise announcement of death, comparable to an esquela.
- Funeral card / memorial card – printed items conveying funeral details, sometimes derived from or combined with esquela formats.
- Necrology – a collective list or record of deaths.
- Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) – the authoritative institution that defines and regulates Spanish vocabulary, including esquela.
- Latin scheda – the etymological root meaning “piece of paper.”
Sources: Real Academia Española (RAE) definition of esquela; Wiktionary entry for esquela (etymology from Latin scheda).