Recently, when I walked into school through the front entrance, I noticed a Dia de los Muertos mural with flowers, drawings, and a portrait of someone’s name that I suppose is dead. For me, I knew what was going on – before moving to Saint Louis, I lived in Mexico City for three years, but some of you might be wondering what this display is all about.
For starters, the display is actually an altar or “ofrenda” as they call it in Mexico, and it plays a major part in the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos. Dia De Los Muertos, or in English, Day of the Dead, is a holiday traditionally celebrated in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and other Latin American and South American countries. The point of this celebration, which happens on November 1 and 2, is to gather, remember and honor friends and family members who have died.
Similar to the ofrendas at both the entrance of Brentwood High School and Middle School, on an ofrenda, people typically place photos and personal items of their loved ones along with decorations like marigolds and candles and sometimes even that person’s favorite foods and beverages.
Spanish teacher Senora Doural and her Spanish I, II, & III classes are the ones who created the ofrendas and displays in the high school and middle school entrance. They created skulls, candles, confetti, and food out of paper and placed their decorations at both entrances of the school. They created this “Ofrenda” to experience what it’s like to celebrate the Day of the Dead while also helping inform others about the holiday.
When I was living in Mexico City, my family didn’t personally celebrate Day of the Dead, but at the school I attended, I definitely experienced the celebration. At my school for pretty much the whole month of October, there were thin colorful paper banners hung throughout the hallways. At lunch, there was a big ofrenda in the corner of the room with a portrait of a class from about 50 years ago that used to go to the same school. Outside of school, the streets were decorated with the same colorful paper banners. On November 1st, there was a big parade with all of these different types of characters and people dressed up who were dancing and doing a big performance throughout the city.
Senora Doural also didn’t grow up celebrating Day of the Dead in Argentina, but she really likes the holiday because it’s a celebration of life, not death. She also thinks that if we remember our loved ones they will be present with us and not forgotten. “There is no need to be sad,” she said. “We remember them, honor them, and are thankful for their legacy.”
