Day of the Dead
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
On the Day of the Dead, loved ones who have passed into the after life are invited back to this world to celebrate with the living.
The holiday, El Dia de los Muertos, which can be traced back nearly 3000 years to the time of the Aztecs, is an important celebration among some Hispanic cultures. The day is recognized through parades and colorfully decorated alters (Ofrendas), which include fresh flowers, food and personal items the deceased family members and friends enjoyed while they were alive.
Linn-Benton Community College will recognize this, Nov. 2, with various activities and exhibits on campus. The Diversity Achievement Center will be showing “ Food for the Ancestors,” a movie that discusses the holiday as it is celebrated in Mexico and will be holding a tamale workshop. A communal Ofrenda will be on display in front of the center for everyone in the college community who may want to take part. Elsewhere, The South Santiam Hall Gallery will showcase Day of the Dead student artwork on Nov. 30.
Veronica Garcia, a Political Science major who is organizing the activities in the DAC, hopes that the activities will offer insights into the holiday.
“What we are trying to do is show more of the culture and talk more about the history behind it. A lot of people know of the Day of the Dead but they don’t know what it’s about,” Garcia said.
According to LBCC art faculty member, Analee Fuentes, who is in charge of the student art exhibit, although the Day of the Dead falls around the same time as Halloween, it serves a different function for those who celebrate. Unlike Halloween, which is scary and has evil connotations, the Day of the Dead is a time to celebrate the cycle of life, our ancestors, and the fact that since we are all going to die we might as well have a good time.
“You can think of it as a non-denial holiday, and there is an element of humor in it,” Fuentes said.
Toni Klohk, director of the Diversity Achievement Center, believes that it is important to recognize holidays like the Day of the Dead and by doing so we are highlighting different cultures on campus.
“College is supposed to broaden your minds and to give you experiences that you don’t necessarily get in your home or your community. This (Day of the Dead activities) brings the outside world in and gives a broader perspective on culture and different celebrations across the world,” Klohk said.
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