The upcoming Hispanic holiday called El Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, will give Wright College’s Hispanic community the opportunity to celebrate the life and spiritual journey of loved ones they have lost.
“To me, Dia de Los Muertos is a cultural day where we unite in spirit with our loved ones” said Wright College student Jazmin Armas.
During the day of the Dead, families honor their loved ones that have passed by building altars and decorating it with vibrant colors and things that the person who passed away liked. They also put their favorite foods so that the spirit of that person will come and visit the altar.
“For the Day of the Dead we set a table that has pictures, candles, food, and drinks, and then we pray together as a family,” said Armas.
This holiday is very important throughout Mexican culture because it brings families closer together to celebrate the life of someone important to them. It is also amazing to see how a tradition that was started in Mexico a long time ago has made its way to the United States and other areas in Latin America.
Many items containing sugar are made around the time of the holiday. These creations include sugar skulls that are decorated with vibrant colors and designs, “Pan De Muerto” or Day of the Dead bread that are made in the shape of bones, altars, and decorations with vibrant colors.
“We feel very honored to be here to be able to show the work that we do with the sugar skulls,” said Alejandro Mondragon, member of the Day of the Dead: Tilica y flaca es la calaca exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
“My parents used to come from mexico to sell the sugar skulls here at the museum, and this year marks the twenty third year of that tradition,” continued Mondragon.
At his exhibit, Mondragon had the moldings that they use to make the sugar skulls and all the beautiful decorations that they put on them. “We feel very honored that the people are here to recognize the work we do here with the sugar skulls.” said Mondragon.
They also sold their sugar skulls and let people customize them by putting the names of people on the skulls right there at exhibit. The exhibit started on Sept. 29 and will end on Dec. 10, and it is also free admission to go visit.
Dia de los Muertos lets us know that our loved ones may be gone, but they will never be forgotten as long as we keep on celebrating their life and the journey they take on after death.