.
October 14, 2009
Bach Phan
Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is a celebration that occurs in many Hispanic countries, but is mostly practiced in Mexico. These festive traditions are passed on from generation to generation and can range from simple to complex.
Junior Tania Magallon talks about what she does when Nov. 2 rolls around. The celebration is different in Mexico than it is in the United States. In Mexico, her family would set up an altar with flowers, the deceased relatives’ favorite food and pictures of late family members. They would also visit the graves, where they set down incense and flowers, usually marigolds, the traditional flower for Day of the Dead. These items guide the souls to the feast waiting for them back home.
In the United States, it is more difficult to carry on those traditions because all of her relatives live in Mexico.
“We think that we are doing all we can to celebrate them as best as we can,” Magallon said.
The only thing that her family can do is call her relatives from Mexico on the phone and send them money in order to buy the flowers, food and adornments to put on the altar or on the grave.
The students of our school, however, are keeping the spirit of tradition alive with their own celebration. Supervised by Spanish teacher Dolores Vera-Valdez, the students in M.E.Ch.A. Club are going to set up an altar with photographs of the club members’ deceased relatives. In addition, they are going to decorate the altar and set it up like their ancestors and families have done it.
Loading ...