The smell of fresh bread, chocolate and marigolds mingled as music and culture thrived when students, staff and community members gathered to honor their late loved ones.
At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, members of the Latino Resource Center and the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority hosted a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) crafting event and public day of remembrance.
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 to honor deceased loved ones. The holiday blends Indigenous traditions, particularly from the Aztec civilization, with Catholic influences introduced during Spanish colonization. It celebrates death as a natural part of life and emphasizes the cyclical nature of existence.
Central to the celebration are altars (ofrendas), which families set up in their homes or at cemeteries.
These altars are adorned with offerings such as photos, favorite foods and beverages of the deceased, candles, marigolds (cempasúchil) and sugar skulls (calaveras). The purpose is to temporarily welcome the spirits of the departed back to the world of the living, guiding them with familiar scents, tastes and memories.
Participants were invited to partake in crafting Day of the Dead decorations and place photos of loved ones on the public ofrenda. Guests were also able to eat traditional snacks such as pan de muerto and drink Mexican hot chocolate.
“This display is important to the public. It exposes people to a different culture and it’s something a lot of people can do themselves and get creative with it,” said Evelyn Medina-Ortega, a senior human development and family sciences major.
There was a movie viewing of “Coco” as well to help participants relax and unwind. The movie tells the story of a young boy who gets trapped in the land of the dead and must escape before Day of the Dead ends or he’ll be stuck in the afterlife forever.
For many, Day of the Dead can be very personal. The Latino Resource Center’s event helps those who can’t make it home for the holiday.
“I just love putting my personal things and putting the pictures and making them look pretty. It makes them (my family) really want to visit us,” Medina-Ortega said. “Day of the Dead is very close to my heart. It’s a day I can remember my dad.”
No matter your cultural background, Day of the Dead is a powerful cultural phenomenon and a great way to honor the memory of your loved ones.
On Friday, the LTA sorority sisters will celebrate Halloween by handing out candy to anyone who spots them around campus and shouts “Trick or treat” to them.
