Halloween was celebrated Tuesday night with trick-or-treating, elaborate costumes and other traditions, but yesterday and today, many in the Cathedral community have been celebrating El Día de los Muertos. The holiday, which originated in Mexico, directly translates to “The Day of the Dead,” and it serves as a reminder to celebrate and reflect on the lives of loved ones who have passed away.
On the Hill, the Latino Student Union is helping the community celebrate El Día de los Muertos in a variety of ways. This has included an informational morning announcement about the holiday, but most notably, a traditional ofrenda was constructed in the hallway between Kelly Hall and the Innovation Center.
LSU President Naomi Donato wrote in an email, “LSU is helping Cathedral celebrate by putting an ofrenda on campus that is open for everyone to participate in…families put up altars with pictures of their lost loved ones, food their loved ones enjoy and other articles for remembrance.” These items are offerings to their spirits, but they also serve as a reminder of the small, yet important, details that are so often forgotten after an individual has passed away.
Within American culture, death is frequently mourned, but true celebration of life rarely occurs. While reflecting on the life of a deceased loved one may evoke sadness, Donato explained, “El Día de los Muertos is not necessarily a sad event, but it is supposed to be a day of remembrance and happiness.”
As many Latino families light candles, place offerings on ofrendas and tell stories about their loved ones tonight, Donato said that, to her, “El Día de los Muertos is a day to remember that our loved ones are still with us, even though they’ve died. It’s hard to cope with the loss of loved ones, but Día de los Muertos helps with this process.”
In recent years, El Día de los Muertos has increasingly been celebrated in the United States, especially with the release of the hit Disney movie “Coco” in 2017. Because of this, it has become commercialized to an extent.
However, Donato is pleased with the increased conversation about the holiday, and she said, “Growing up, it wasn’t as talked about. As long as people are being respectful and learning the right information, I think it can be a positive exposure.”
While deceased loved ones may not be here in a physical form, their spirit lives on. El Día de los Muertos provides the opportunity to reflect on their lives and accordingly live in a way which honors their legacies.
Donato said, “The Día de los Muertos altar is still up, and everyone is welcome to participate by bringing in items. Hopefully future LSU committees will continue this tradition and the Cathedral family can continue to celebrate this wonderful holiday of remembrance.”
