As Halloween approaches, so does a deeply significant celebration of life and death: Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This vibrant holiday is based on a tradition that happens at midnight on October 31 where the gates of heaven open, allowing the spirits of the departed to reunite with the living. The origins of the Dia de los Muertos date back to pre colonial times in the Aztec Empire, where skulls were displayed as a way to honor the deceased. When the Spanish colonized the Aztecs these celebrations started to mix Catholicism’s traditions. This beautiful celebration only lasts for 2 days and ends on November 2nd. These two days celebrate different meanings. November 1st is to honor all the children who have passed while November 2nd is celebrating the adults who have passed.
Días de los Muertos is celebrated all around the world by different cultures. Specifically, it is more popular in Latin Culture. When celebrating one would typically see an ofrenda also known as an altar with food and objects placed as an offering. Flowers are a big part of the celebration as they have deeper meanings and are placed all around the house; the most commonly used are marigolds, chrysanthemums, and gladiolus. Their petals and fragrances are also used to help guide the souls home as they are placed on the ground leading away from the home and ofrenda. Graves at cemeteries are also decorated with offerings, flowers, and candles. Music is played throughout the night as people feast, drink, and go to community events.

With these celebrations, many staff celebrate Días de Los Muertos. An interview with Mrs. Cedeño she expresses, “Celebramos poniendo un altar con mi familia. A mi mamá no le gusta Días de los Muertos, pero a mí papá le gustaba mucho y ahora queremos tener ese tradicional aquí con mis hijos. Entonces, trato poner un altar pequeño en mi casa y ponerle flores, cempasúchil, y las fotos. Ese día como que es de tristeza, pero mejor nos hacemos como alegres, recordándoles alegremente.” (We celebrated by setting up an altar with my family. My mom doesn’t like Days of the Dead, but my dad liked it a lot and now we want to have that tradition pass on with my children. So, I try to put a small altar in my house and put flowers, marigolds, and photos on it. That day is like a day of sadness, but we must make it filled with joy, remembering them happily.”)

While in an interview with Mrs. Guerra, a Spanish teacher at Golden Valley, she said that on Dia de los Muertos she would make an altar. One of the people that are featured on her altar is her grandfather. She mentions presenting his “favorite foods, his favorite drinks, things that remind me of him”. She would also decorate the house in cempasúchil (marigolds) and in her household she would make her grandpa’s favorite dish to eat towards the end of the day. As Mrs. Guerra said, “Just like enjoying the altar and just talking about him on that day and well every day but on that day”.

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated differently by a multitude of people, many of whom go out to celebrate with others at events.  Main Street Canoga Park is going to hold their 24th annual Dia de los Muertos festival at Sherman Way on Sunday, November 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. so don’t miss out!  For more information go to https://www.mainstreetcanogapark.la/. Come and celebrate Dia de los Muertos, at home or with others!