Last Friday, November 2nd the Latinx Student Association (LSA) hosted their annual Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. This event usually falls on a night when perspective students are on campus to feel the vibe and the LSA team would say that their event was a success and overall created a fun, positive energy for the community.
If you’ve never heard of Dia de Los Muertos, here is a little background behind the day of the dead (this was announced by the emcee’s at the event): “El Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — traditionally starts at midnight the night of Oct. 31, and the festivities are abundant in images related to death. But the customs have different origins, and their attitudes toward death are different In the typical Halloween festivities, death is something to be feared, but in el Dia de Los Muertos, death — or at least the memories of those who have died — is something to be celebrated. The Aztecs and many other pre-Hispanic civilizations collected skulls as trophies and used them during the ritual. These skulls symbolized death and rebirth. When the Spanish Conquistadores arrived to what is now Latin America, they were shocked to discover natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. Unlike the Spaniards who viewed death as the end of life, the natives considered it as a continuation of life.To the natives, life was a dream and only in death they would become awake.The ritual had been practiced for over 3000 years until the Spaniards decided to implement their Christian beliefs. Today the Day of the Dead is celebrated in México and in certain parts of Central America and the United States. People in rural México pay tribute every year by spending the night in the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate the graves with Flores de Muerto (marigold flowers), toys for the children, and bottles of mezcal for the adults. Families will build altars in their homes dedicated to the dead. They surround the altars with food, skulls made of sugar, candles, sugar cane, pictures of the deceased, and candles.”
The event was filled with a diverse background and as an emcee I was happy to see a great Latinx turnout! The event was educational, consisted of phenomenal performances, there were fun activities, and the event closed with a DJ which I’m sure sparked a memorable experience for present and future Katies.
One of the performers was Michael Fernandez who blew the crowd away with his voice:
The second performance was by the talented Alegres Bailadores that had a variety of dances with a combination of young and older people:
The LSA advisor, board, and club members went above and beyond with this year’s Altar (ofrenda) that was made homage to activists who have passed away:
If you missed the event this year then you must attend next year and celebrate this wonderful holiday with the Latinx Student Association and community.