Halloween has become a wildly popular holiday in the United States with total spending for 2008 estimated at $5.77 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Most cultures living in the U.S. readily adopt this commercial holiday, and over the past few decades Halloweens’ popularity has been steadily spreading around the globe, crossing many ethnic and religious boundaries. Its’ origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. On this night, the Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred and that ghosts of the dead walked the earth. November 1st is the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day, previously known as All Hallows’ Day. The night before was referred to as “All Hallows’ Eve” which became “Halloween.”
Similar holidays and rituals recognizing and honoring our dead ancestors take place around the world. For Mexicans everywhere, November 1st also marks the beginning of the two-day celebration of “Día de los Muertos” or “Day of the Dead.” This holiday gathers family and friends together to pray for and remember their deceased loved ones. Colorful traditions include building private altars and visiting cemetaries to leave gifts for the deceased such as flowers, candles, favorite foods and beverages and intricate skulls and dolls made of sugar. “Dia de los Muertos” can be traced back to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Traditionally, November 1st honors deceased children and infants and is referred to as “Day of the Innocents or Little Angels”, while November 2nd, “Day of the Dead”, honors deceased adults.
As the Mexican-American community grows in the United States, so has the observence of this holiday with numerous events and family get-togethers. Here are some of the events celebrating “Dia de los Muertos” taking place across the country.
1) Dia De Los Muertos at SVMA – Sonoma, CA
Date: October 30-November 2, 2008
Website: www.svma.org
Description: 8th annual exhibit of commemorative alters celebrating departed generations and family members in the tradition of the Mexican Day of the Dead at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
2) Annual Day of the Dead Exhibition – Chicago, IL
Date: September 26 – December 14, 2008
Website: www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org
Description: National Museum of Mexican Art exhibit La Vida Sin Fin “Day of the Dead 2008” honors all those killed by the Mexican government 40 years ago in the Tlatelolco massacre.
3) Dia De Los Muertos presented by MECA – Houston, TX
Date: November 1 & 2, 2008
Website: http://www.meca-houston.org/dotd/index.html
Description: MECA's event features Dia de los Muertos celebrations from throughout Latin America, with an altar exhibit competition, foods from Latin American countries, and vendors selling authentic Latin American Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts. This festival is a community cultural event celebrating our ancestors and Latin American traditions.
4) Dia De Los Muertos at UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures – San Antonio, TX
Date: October 7-November 2, 2008
Website: www.texancultures.com
Description: El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a blend of indigenous and Spanish Colonial religious beliefs and practices that have evolved into one of Mexico’s most famous and internationally admired festivals. UTSA celebrates Día de los Muertos by building an altar to celebrate the lives of deceased family, friends, and associates.
5) Dia De Los Muertos at El Pueblo History Museum – Pueblo, CO
Date: October 21-November 8, 2008
Website: www.coloradohistory.org
Description: Celebrating Day of the Dead with educational programs and annual ofrenda display.
6) Hollywood Forever Cemetery 9th Annual Dia De Los Muertos - Los Angeles, CA
Date: November 1, 2008
Website: www.ladayofthedead.com
Description: Witness this colorful ancient indigenous based Mexican ceremony as we welcome our guests to celebrate life and ancient traditions fused with modern culture.
7) Day of the Dead Festival of Souls – Charlotte, NC
Date: November 2, 2008
Website: www.museumofthenewsouth.org
Description: The Levine Museum of the New South and the Latin American Coalition present the Third Annual Festival of Souls on Dia De Los Muertos. Free admission all day, plus activities, food, story-telling and more.
