Get the cempasúchil! Time to celebrate Día de los Muertos in the DMV!
By hola | Published | No Comments
Across all cultures, death and loss are handled very differently with a multitude of special traditions. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a unique way of facing death that originated in Mesoamerica and continues in modern-day countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and beyond, spreading north to the United States and the rest of the world in recent decades. While other countries also observe these holy days, the blending of Roman Catholic and indigenous beliefs makes the Mesoamerican Día de los Muertos unique.
The two-day celebration spanning Nov. 1 and 2 is believed as a time where the passageway between our world and the spirit world is open for deceased loved ones to visit their families. On Nov. 1 each year, called Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Holy Innocents), children who have passed away are said to come back, while Nov. 2 is the day the difunto (or dead) adults join the festivities.
The beautiful traditions involved in Día de los Muertos revolve around setting up an ofrenda, or altar, to commemorate loved ones. Families decorate altars in their homes and load them up with food, drink and other gifts to help guide their family members home. On altars, it’s essential to add marigolds. These bright yellow-gold flowers – called cempasúchil in the Nahuatl indigenous language – are thought to lead spirits home with their distinct smell.
Día de los Muertos is a beautiful way to celebrate death. It’s a time of the year to bring families and people closer together. If you are looking for fun ways to celebrate with others, consider checking out these events in the Washington, D.C., area.
D.C. Area Events Celebrtaing Día de los Muertos
- Día de los Muertos Block Party – This all-ages party is hosted by Bryant Street Market in NE Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27, from 5 to 11 p.m. The party features Mexican cuisine, music, art and intricate face painting.
- Smithsonian Día de los Muertos Events – The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the Native American on National Mall in Washington, D.C. has two days of activities planned. On Oct. 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there are many activities for all ages and include many crafts such as papel picado and mask making, where you can learn about the history and significance of these crafts. There will also be a community ofrenda and butterfly arch to remember and honor your loved ones.
- Día de los Muertos Celebration – The Mexican Cultural Institute hosts it’s free annual Muertos celebration on Sat., Oct. 28, from noon to 4 p.m. The festivities will feature a traditional Day of the Dead altar, as well as an art exhibition and a piano performance.
- Día de los Muertos Picnic – The Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington, Virginia is hosting a free event on Nov. 1, 5 to 8 p.m., filled with live music from Grupo Fénix and dance performances by Los Quetzales. You can also make your very own calavera mask.
- Día de los Muertos Performances – This free event at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on Nov. 2, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., showcases many folk dances, live music and crafts such as papel picado and face-painting. At 6:30 p.m., artists Mas Paz and Guache will present their live video, “La Común Unidad: Caminando con los Ancestros” (The Common Unity: Walking with the Ancestors), highlighting the artists’ ancestral cultural heritage. This is a great event for families and all ages to enjoy art, dances and music.
- Día de los Muertos Festival – This free festival at the Washington Monument Grounds on Nov. 4 – 5, from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. is a celebration and a fundraiser to help reunite the children who have been separated from their families at the border, advocate for unaccompanied minors crossing the border, as well as providing support for children of marginalized communities abroad to reduce the dire need to leave their home countries. The festival will have a multitude of events such as live music and performances, a cross-cultural altar and local vendors.
- Día de los Muertos Party – Shmidt Spirits Distillery in Beltsville, Maryland is celebrating Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 4, 6 to 9 p.m., with themed drinks, desserts, an ofrenda table and more. There will be music, costumes and fun for the adults. Join them for a night of celebration and remembrance.
- Black Tie Fiesta – Things to Do DC and Embassy Experiences are holding a formal fiesta at the Mexican Cultural Institute on Nov. 4, from 8:30 to 11:45 p.m., with live music, including a mariachi and D.J., both traditional and non-traditional dancing, an ofrenda and more. Tickets cost around $140.
– Written by Crystal Lee
– Edited by Jordan Luz
Recent Stories
