Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Día de los Muertos is a historical holiday (originally from Mexico) that is celebrated on November 1 and November 2. It honors loved ones who are now deceased, with a joyful, rather than sad remembrance. It is NOT to be confused with Halloween, which falls about the same time of the year. Day of the Dead was born of indigenous and Catholic fusion meant to welcome back visiting souls, not a spooky night of frights. It is a holiday for the entire family, young and old, and it is a wonderful tradition for remembering friends and family.
For the fourth year, our community will come together to celebrate Día de los Muertos, honoring the lives, memories and loved ones who remain with us.
Plan to celebrate this colorful and positive way to remember family and friends that have passed away. The holiday is based on building and providing an ofrenda or offering in the form of an altar. Here are some things you can do inside your home, outside in your front or back garden, in your place of business, etc. to provide an ofrenda (offering) to those loved ones who have passed.
1. Build an altar, on the floor, on a tabletop, on a patio chair, etc. Put a nice covering over the top and then build the altar. There is no set way...be creative.
2. One of the most prominent items used on an altar are, bright orange marigold flowers (cempasúchil) and they are scattered to attract wandering spirits. You can find these gorgeous flowers in abundance in the Flower District (may list streets or stores). You can start buying them a week earlier, since they last for quite a long time in water. Put them in vases around the house, or on the altar or scatter them on the altar or floor. You’re on your way.
3. Next, you’ll need to buy some sugar Calaveras (skulls). These skulls are an important reminder that life is sweet. The skulls and skeletons are not negative, but brightly artistic representations used to celebrate life, honor the dead, and mock social inequalities. The sugar calaveras are glowingly painted and decorated. Some of the smaller ones can actually be eaten. They often have the name of the deceased person written on them, but you can do it with tubed frosting. For young kids, have them decorate a marshmallow skull and put it on a stick. And add them to the altar.
4. An important part of the altar is to have photos of your loved ones lying around or in frames. If you have kids, have them decorate plain colored frames with bright “astro bright” colors and place them around the house and on the altar. Looking at old photos can bring on great conversations and remembrances. Or make your own out of cardboard, etc. After the celebration is over, keep the photos displayed around the house.
5. As you remember our lost family and friends, add favorite foods, mementos and water to the altar, to welcome their spirits. Warning: Be sure to not leave food out that will spoil and smell up the area of the altar. Add candles (safely please), papel picado (paper banners that use beautiful cut outs on colorful paper), and other decorative items
6. Many families bake and eat pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a sweet pastry decorated with bone-shaped pieces of dough. Most Mexican bakeries will be selling pan de Muertos, so arrive early so they are not sold out. This takes a lot of preparation, and we’ve included a link to a recipe here, if you’re interested. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7224/pan-de-muertos-mexican-bread-of-the-dead/
