Every year on November 1st through the 2nd families across Mexico and beyond come together to celebrate Día de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. This traditional Mexican holiday has been celebrated for the last 3,000 years. Families gather together to honor loved ones who have passed away. This holiday is unlike any other, where instead of mourning someone’s death the person’s life is celebrated. Every detail included in this holiday represents something significant and special in the remembrance of loved ones.
It is very common for people to say that Día de Los Muertos is just Mexican Halloween, but it most definitely is not. Halloween is all about the scary, undead, and supernatural, such as Dracula and Frankenstein. On the other hand, Día de Los Muertos is all about celebrating the lives of those who passed.
Families create ofrendas which are basically offerings to the spirits of their departed family members. There are certain items that the altar should have when being created. Every ofrenda displays photos of the family members that have passed on. In addition, the four elements are also included: water, wind, earth, and fire. Water is left in a pitcher or a cup that is placed on the altar to quench the thirst of the spirits.
Papel picado or traditional paper banners are put up to represent the wind. Earth is represented by adding the family members’ favorite food, such as bread. More specifically, the most common food added to the altar is “pan de muerto” which is a popular sweet bread. Last but not least, candles that represent fire are often displayed, so that the spirits can find their way to the ofrenda.
Additional items that are added to the altar include sugar skulls which are supposed to symbolize an accurate representation of the specific loved one who passed away. The cempasúchil which is commonly known as marigolds are essential flowers that are added to the altar. The flowers have bright colors and a strong fragrance that are believed to attract the spirits to the altar.
Our very own Spanish Honors Society club here at San Dimas High School celebrated this holiday by setting up their own ofrenda as a way of celebrating. It was set up in front of Sra. Valencia’s classroom (G1). The ofrenda was very decorative and it really brought out what Día de los Muertos is all about, especially because we had different pictures of family members from different families that passed away, so that was really nice”, stated the club secretary Stephney Segura.
Members of the club explained how there were a variety of different family members displayed on the ofrenda, as well as animals and pets. The club even recognized the former, recently deceased Dodger baseball player Fernando Valenzuela, by adding his photo to their ofrenda.
When the clubs At Large, Alina Quintanilla was asked, What is one important thing that you think should be shared?, she responded with, “This celebration is not just for our culture necessarily, like Mexican culture but it can be someone for everyone to just recognize people in their lives who had passed away. It is not just about the dead, it’s the day of the dead. It’s about celebrating the people that have passed.”
