On Friday Evening, students and community members gathered at the Many Nations Longhouse to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Día de los Muertos is a traditional ritual practiced for nearly 4,000 years by many indigenous and non-indigenous Latin cultures, particularly in Mexico and Central Latin America.
The event was put on by MEChA. Now in its 26th year of operation, MEChA is a student organization that promotes higher education, culture and history of the Chicano community, according to the group’s Web site.
The event featured both Spanish and English speakers as well as live meringue music and salsa dancing.
Attendees viewed photography by Tania Frausto, a photographer and architect from Guanajuato, Mexico. “My art is intended to give goose-bumps and to reflect our culture,” Frausto said.
The art depicted both daily life and hardships facing the Latino community.
Although it is celebrated at the same time of the year as Halloween, Día de los Muertos is a significantly different celebration.
“It is nothing like Halloween, the only similarity is that it’s around the same time,” said University student and MEChA member Diego Hernandez.
Día de los Muertos, which lasts from Nov. 1, All Saint’s Day, through Nov. 2, All Souls Day, is a time where Latinos honor family and friends who have passed. This is done by placing food and water on an altar that was created in recognition of the deceased, symbolizing life after death.
The traditional mood surrounding Día de los Muertos is typically much brighter than that of Halloween. Unlike Halloween, the purpose of Día de los Muertos is not to be frightening, but rather reminiscing and collective.
“It is a time to honor the dead and celebrate the continuation of life. There is no trick or treating or trying to be scary, it is a time to remember loved ones who return to earth in spirit only once a year” said Student and Assistant Program Coordinator Saul Rodriguez. “Life goes on and death is not the end, it is just a stage in a long continuing life.”
The event also included presentations given by the Mujeres, a group established in 1995 that is dedicated to empowering Chicanas within MEChA and other groups for women of color. Each mujer presented a factual story of an indigenous woman who has died and been forgotten.
One mujer told the story of her grandmother’s death.
“Her family was able to pay for medical treatment, but because she was a woman and her concerns were not priority she died of cancer.”
The event concluded with traditional food and drink and a chance to observe the altar that was constructed to memorialize deceased relatives of some of the MEChA members.
“To me, it’s a very interesting and also very healthy way to view death. Most Americans don’t even want to talk about aging, let alone death. Remembering lost love should bring happiness, not pain,” attendee Mercedes Alvarado said.
Brandon Howell, another attendee, said: “I’ve always celebrated Halloween, but after this event I realize Halloween is really only for kids or an excuse to party. The Latin culture seems to know the true reason for this time of year, and that’s to remember the dead, not imitate them.”