As October festivities come to a close, Mexicans everywhere are gearing up for one of our most important celebrations of the year: Dia de Los Muertos.
No, it’s not Mexican Halloween, despite both holidays being almost the same day. Dia de Los Muertos is a celebration of life with indigenous roots and takes place on Nov. 1st and 2nd.
You don’t have to be Mexican to celebrate; there are still plenty of ways for you and your friends to be involved in the holiday, while still honoring and respecting Mexican culture.
Here are some fun ways to celebrate with friends or roommates:
1. Make an ofrenda
The most symbolic part of the holiday is the ofrenda, which translates to the altar. The ofrenda is where pictures of lost loved ones, flowers, candles, sugar skulls, desserts, and other offerings are put together as a way to welcome spirits home.
The ofrenda can be as detailed or as simple as possible. In a college dorm or small apartment, some pictures of your loved ones and something small that represents them are enough to honor those who have passed.
2. Shop local Mexican owned stores
Although shopping at Mexican-owned small businesses should be a year-round practice, here are some cool, Mexican-owned small businesses in the SLO area:
- Life Elements– nature-based skin and body products.
- Ulloa Cellars– wine and vineyards.
- Chinelo– Mexican food in downtown SLO
3. Watch Coco
Of course, the first movie that should come to mind when talking about Dia de Los Muertos is Coco, because it’s an excellent movie and actually portrays Mexican culture in an honest and beautiful way.
Although it’s offered in English, watching Coco in Spanish, with English subtitles if necessary, is an entirely different experience because the meaning of the film is much more authentic when told in the original language. You can make it a movie night with your friends or roomies while eating Pan de Muerto, or Pan dulce mentioned in the next section.
4. Enjoy Mexican delicacies
Pan dulce and hot chocolate are especially popular during the holiday. Abuelita Hot Chocolate is a safe choice, but for Latinx-owned hot chocolate brands, try Hernan.
Pan de Muerto, or even Pan dulce, is a little difficult to get in SLO, but if you’re willing to make a small trip past Arroyo Grande, you can get conchas and other sweet bread at Delicias de Mi Tierra.
5. Reflect
All in all, one of the most important aspects of Dia de Los Muertos is remembering and celebrating, instead of mourning, those who have passed on.
After a year of mass sickness and death, Dia de Los Muertos can be an opportunity to channel love and sadness into something beautiful that you can celebrate with friends and family.
But, as with anyone’s culture, respect tradition and the roots of the holiday. Dia de Los Muertos is not a trend, nor an opportunity for performative allyship. Appropriating, commercializing, and aestheticizing our culture is far too common, but exploring and learning about Dia de Los Muertos is a respectful way to get involved in another culture.
However you choose to celebrate this year, remember that researching and taking the time to understand the core of one of Mexico’s most important holidays goes a long way.