Ofrendando al Día de los Muertos |Day of the Dead
By hola | Published | No Comments
“The Day of the Dead is a holiday that celebrates life and death that originated in Mesoamerica. For me personally, the Day of the Dead is my favorite celebration. We get to make food from Mexico and put a plate of food for our family members who have died. The decorations and activities are a way for even kids to have fun; it’s very colorful,” says Linda Hernandez, a member of Hola Cultura’s S.P.E.L. youth storytelling program, whose family is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, a place famous for its annual Day of the Dead celebrations. “My mom says the first day of Day of the Dead (Nov. 1) is for the little kids who died, and the second day (Nov. 2) is for the older people. We celebrate mainly on the second day for my late grandmother, decorating the stand with her picture with flowers, lit candles, and her favorite foods.
With at least 1.2 million people dead worldwide from COVID-19, including 228,000 U.S. residents, and more than 45 million people infected, including nearly 9 million in the United States, this year el Dia de los Muertos/the Day of the Dead takes on special significance for many people in our hard-hit community. But social distancing rules have transformed what are usually festive pubic ofrendas around the region into mostly closed-door affairs. But at least we can enjoy these beautiful expressions of love and caring for the dearly departed from our computer desktops and phone screens.
Here’s a roundup of events taking place over the weekend and next week.
illumiNATIONS: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, Smithsonian Latino Center/ Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Fri., Oct. 30, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrate the Day of Dead from home by learning from cultural and scientific experts about Monarch butterflies, a traditional symbol of this holiday. Then make your own butterfly, or learn about the role of masks in this celebration by making a virtual visit to the Arizona studio of a renown sculptor and maskmaker, who will demonstrate how to make your own skull paper mask. This virtual event will also feature the Grammy-winning band Quetzal. You can also visit the museum’s Facebook page and post comments in memory of your loved ones. Join via streaming video on the museum’s Youtube channel and Facebook page. Request tickets for free here.
The Mexican Cultural Institute’s Day of the Dead Celebration 2020
From Sat., Oct. 31, to Sat., Nov. 21
Enjoy a self-guided experience called “The Journey through the Mictlán” inspired by the Aztec mythology where you will learn the relevance of the Day of the Dead celebration. The institute also selected a few families who are remotely showcasing their at-home altars as part of a community engagement called “Los tuyos, los míos y los nuestros.” You can book a virtual tour by appointment only. Free tickets will be made available by emailing altar2020@instituteofmexicodc.org every Monday at 10:00 AM. Starting on Monday, October 26 until November 16. For more info visit: www.instituteofmexicodc.org, @MexCultureDC.
Día de los Muertos Virtual Celebration by Smithsonian Latino Center and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Sun., Nov. 1, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with family activities that explore the rich culinary heritage through traditional recipes such as mole, pan de muerto (the sweet “bread of the dead” traditional this time of year) and other culinary treats related with the tradition. Museum folklorist Cynthia Vidaurri will answer questions about Day of Dead and make a presentation about the tradition. You can also learn how to make a colorful paper flowers designed to look like the traditional Marigold (cempasuchil) flowers. This event is part of the series: 2020 Day of the Dead by the Smithsonian Latino Center and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Get more information here.
Celebración del dia de los muertos hosted by La Casa de la Cultura de El Salvador & Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas
Sun., Nov. 1, 4 p.m.
This virtual Dead of Dead celebration will feature Danza Tecuanes, a traditional dance group that will present an ofrenda to our dearly departed loved ones. You can also learn how to make a paper Cempasuchil flower (in the style popular in Puebla, Mexico) at this event, so you can put them on your own Day of the Dead altar. This event features both Mexican- and Guatemalan-style ofrendas which are known for such items as portraits of your loved ones that have died, candles, sugar skulls, pan de muerto, alebrijes, fruits, sweet pumpkin, and samplings of our loved one’s favorite foods and drinks, among others. Check out la Casa’s Facebook page for more information.
Day of the Dead Virtual Tour and Mexican Celebration
Sun. , Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
If you want to know about how Mexicans remember their loved ones and help them supporting their spiritual journey after dead join a virtual guide to celebrate and learn about the Day of the Dead with experts. You will learn the history of this celebration, symbols and how this tradition is celebrated today in modern times throughout Mexico. You will also celebrate this tradition with music and dance. This online event is hosted by Embassy Experiences and ThingstodoDC.com. Tickets are for $10. For more information click here.
Day of the Dead, Lamont Park, Mount Pleasant
Sun., Nov. 1, 3 – 6 p.m.
This in-person event will observe social distancing guidelines while celebrating Day of the Dead and remembering loved ones with music, dance, poetry, local business specials, and other activities for the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and visitors. Bring photos of your loved ones and help build the altar (from 10:30 a.m. to noontime). Or come out for the live entertainment from 3 pm. To 5 p.m., and finish the day with a candlelight vigil from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. This in-person event requires everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Día de los Muertos at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery
Mon., Nov. 2, from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Day of the dead in the National Portrait Gallery with three interactive outdoor installations by artist Mas Paz, Guache, and Omar García. Visitors can share memories through art work, photos of dead loved ones, or by adding their own ofrendas to the altars built along museum’s stairway. During this event, there will be live painting digital projection with sounds and video from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the musuem’s G and 9th streets NW entrance. The projections will celebrate the Latino community and pay tribute to those most effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wearing a mask and practicing social distancing required. This in-person event is carried out in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Mexican Cultural Institute. More information is available here.
Day of the Dead, Oaxaca: Traditions and Realities
Tues., Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. ET (11 a.m. & 5 p.m. Mexico time)
Travel through your computer or phone screen to Oaxaca, México, for a Day of the Dead event where you can learn about the origins of this special celebration, along with its traditions, altars, pantheons, offerings, and traditional foods. You will also learn how to built your own altar at home and find out more about how Oaxacans are observing the Day of the Dead during this covid times. Registration required. Find out more here.
-Linda Hernandez + Victoria Hincapié
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