Honoring Dia de los muertos

In the spirit of remembrance, honoring, and celebration our community had the opportunity to create together a representation of those who have passed away that remain in our hearts and to hold space for them, all were invited to contribute to our community Día de muertos altar that has been in the Blue Room from October 27th through November 7th. Participants, including 5th grade Spanish students,  brought a picture, poem, item, or memento of someone who has passed away that they wanted to honor and celebrate and placed it on the altar. This time of the year for many represents a time of reflection, gratitude, and honoring those in our lives who have passed on. A well known tradition, Day of the Dead or Día de (los) muertos, began thousands of years ago in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures such as Mexico and is deeply rooted in Aztec traditions. It is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd but preparations begin before. The holiday has changed throughout the years due to the impact and influence of the Spanish but remains strong in its essence of honoring and celebrating loved ones as well as acknowledging the reality of deaths in our lives and what that means to us. Check out some photos of what our community created together. If you are curious to learn more about Day of the Dead, here is a video.