Just on the cusp of Halloween, comes the Latino holiday celebrating Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead.) Not frightening, nor a day of mourning, it’s a mix of celebration and remembrance. This colorful Mexican tradition is an event of festivities commemorating the lives of friends and family members who have passed away with the belief that the spirits of the dead come alive for one day.
The origins of this modern Mexican holiday date back centuries ago to the Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess of death, Mictecacihuatl, the skeletal Queen of the afterlife, whose role was to keep watch over the bones of the dead (the reason that skulls are an important decoration for this day)
Remembering the Dead
For an authentic Day of the Dead celebration visit the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center (SQACC) on Saturday, November 2 located on 1225 Broadway Street. The public is invited for their 17th annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos in full Mexican tradition with Mexican cuisine, beverages and musical entertainment by Mariachi Loco and DJ, Isaiah Burciaja. Tickets are $40 per person/$75 per couple. Latino art will be displayed and members of the community have assembled elaborate, personalized altars remembering their departed loved ones with flowers, photos, candles, and, of course, favorite foods and possessions of the deceased- maybe even a bottle of tequila to share spirits with the spirits. The artwork and altars will remain on display until Saturday, November 16 and can be viewed at the Center during the hours of 11am-5pm.
The Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center is dedicated to promoting aspects of the Latino community by encouraging artistic expression and increasing awareness of the Latino culture. As Joe Balderos, an administrator at the Center explains, “We are safe-keeping our cultural heritage-it is our responsibility. Every culture has their traditions but as people become assimilated into American society they tend to lose their cultural identity and, often, by the fourth generation, the cultural identity is lost.” The Center also provides basic life skills such as carpentry and gardening and encourages networking opportunities.
Experience and celebrate this rich cultural tradition of Mexico on Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
Saturday, November 2, 6-10pm. $40 per person/$75 per couple. Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center,
1225 Broadway. 419-241-1655 for tickets For more info visit sqacc.org
