Valley cultures celebrate the dead
Joseph Vasquez / The Collegian
El Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout the Valley. Altar displays at Arte Américas recognize Mexican traditions and as well as those of other cultures. |
By Veronica Bustamante
The Collegian
El Día de los Muertos is not about candy, costumes or even being afraid of ghosts and goblins. Despite its close proximity to Halloween, El Día de los Muertos encompasses a different message.
Translated as Day of the Dead, it is a festive and somber celebration with deep roots in the Mexican and Chicano cultures.
The day reserved for honoring the dead occurs every year on Nov. 1 and 2 in Mexico, Latin America and indigenous tribes.
Participants believe the spirits of dead loved ones return at midnight to their gravesites or homes, where family members are gathered in remembrance of them.
Nov. 1 is for remembrance of deceased infants and children. On Nov. 2 the more commonly celebrated day, is reserved for those who died as adults.
In order for the spirits to find their grave sites or homes, family members help them find the way by setting up elaborate altars with candles, flowers and special mementos of that spirit. “We are welcoming them back to the right place. You don’t want your ancestors lost,” Chicano and Latin American studies professor Ramon Sanchez said.
These altars, or Altares, include personal belongings of the deceased such as photos, favorite clothing items and favorite foods.
Cristina Herrera, a Chicano and Latin American professor, explained that a variety of skulls and skeletons or Calaveras are also placed on the altars to serve as a message that death is inevitable.
The spirits enjoy the remembrance, the food and celebration with their family. Once the celebration is over, the spirits leave shortly before dawn.
The holiday predates the Spanish conquest in Mexico in the early 1500s. Herrera said that despite the pressure to convert and inherit Spanish traditions, El Día de los Muertos was a ritual that indigenous people would not give up.
“This is one of the great things that has stuck with us. The Spanish conquest had no affect on [El Día de los Muertos],” Herrera said.
The Mexican culture embraces death and does not fear it as Americans do. The culture believes that death is natural and should be acknowledged by everyone in society.
Sanchez encourages others in popular culture to view death as Mexican and Chicano cultures do.
“It’s important to see different perspectives in different cultures,” said Sanchez.
He adds that Halloween instills in people a fear of death and spirits. “Instead of welcoming spirits, its ‘Oh my God, they’re coming!’” said Sanchez. Mexican and Chicano cultures show us how to deal with death respectfully.
Herrera agrees that other cultures and those in the United States view death and the idea of spirits and skeletons as morbid.
“I think what needs to change is our perspective of death. Death is not meant to be scary. El Día de los Muertos is meant to acknowledge our own personal death,” Herrera said.
Students have the chance to honor and acknowledge death by attending a couple events occurring on campus and in the community.
The Arte Américas Museum has a showcase of exhibits on display until Nov. 12 in honor of El Día do los Muertos.
“It is one of the most photographed holidays in the world,” Nancy Marquez, interim director at Arte Americas said
Marquez said hundreds of people travel to areas in Mexico to observe the celebrations and elaborate altars, like the ones on display.
Two of the altars in the museum are in remembrance of two young high school graduates. Marquez said that even though the death of a young person is indeed sad, El Día de los Muertos serves as a level of therapy for the families.
“Death is the message of El Día de los Muertos. It doesn’t matter how beautiful, how rich you are, you will face death eventually,” Marquez said.
M.E.Ch.A is sponsoring a few events for El Día de los Muertos on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
On Tuesday is the organization of altars for the dead from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Free Speech Area.
The celebration for El Día de los Muertos is set for Wednesday and Thursday in the Free Speech Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The 19th annual observance of this traditional Mexican holiday will take place on Thursday, Nov. 2 in the Plaza in downtown Fresno. The event is free and takes place from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
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