Monica Marcial, president of the Latinx Student Union (LSU), remembers hearing about Dia de los Muertos from her dad. Growing up, her dad would tell stories about the parades and city-wide celebrations from his time living in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Dressed in traditional clothing and masks of viejitos, people would parade down the streets in honor of the holiday. Graves were decorated, covered in flowers and lit with candles, ready to welcome the spirits of those who’ve died.
Dia de los Muertos, celebrated on Nov. 2, is a holiday celebrated in many Latin American countries. It’s a day of remembrance, where people honor their loved ones who have died. During the celebration, the spirits of the dead are welcomed back to the land of the living.
Marcial, and the rest of LSU, is bringing a small part of this celebration to campus.
From Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, there will be an ofrenda displayed inside of the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Students can submit photos of loved ones to be displayed on the ofrenda until Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Additionally, LSU will collaborate with Campus Ministry to host an after-Mass social on Nov. 2. Following the 4:15 p.m. Mass inside the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, the social will be held in the St. Mary’s Student Center. The event is free and open to all, and there will be food, drinks and sugar skull painting.
A main part of the holiday is setting up an ofrenda, or an altar. For the ofrenda, people display pictures of their loved ones who have died, alongside foods or things that were important to the person.
Although every ofrenda is unique, they all have elements in common, like marigold flowers and candles, which make the spirit’s journey to the physical world a smoother transition.
Estrella de Maria Zamora-Resendiz, LSU’s vice president, has fond memories of helping her mom set up the ofrenda each year.
“My family has always set up an ofrenda at my house,” Estrella de Maria Zamora-Resendiz said. “It's always felt special and a time to be thankful for the people that have passed away in your life, and the impact that person left in your life.”
Despite the sadness that many may expect from this type of celebration, the day is meant to honor a person’s life, not focus on their death. Lupita Zamora-Resendiz, LSU’s staff advisor, also emphasizes the joy that comes from the holiday.
“One thing that's really cool about Dia de los Muertos is that it is a very colorful holiday, despite death being in its name,” Lupita Zamora-Resendiz said. “I think something that Latinos do really well is celebrate despite there being sadness or any of that.”
There will also be ofrendas set up throughout other parts of campus for students to observe.
Lupita Zamora-Resendiz will continue her tradition of setting one up in her residence hall, this year being Shipstad Hall. MEChA de UP will have an ofrenda in Clark Library to honor immigrants and those who have died at the Mexican-American border. Bon Appetit is displaying an ofrenda in the Pilot House to honor community members.
Samantha Zavala is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at zavala27@up.edu
