Public altars are built to honor important personalities of Chicanos and Mexican artists that have been influential to the Latino communities in California. The Chicano Movement introduced this celebration where its original elements went beyond the common family household and became a community expression of cultural heritage that commemorates the ancestors of the Americas. In the U.S., the altar-making rituals have been a cultural practice beyond the individual space, where museums, art galleries, community centers, and schools make their own altars for the Day of the Dead. These can be made of papier-mâché, clay, wood, metal, cut-out tissue paper, and often, they are made of sugar decorated with colored icing, flowers, or metallic colored foils. It is common to see skulls or calaveras as decorations. These altars have a series of different components that vary from one culture to another that mostly include yellow marigolds, candles, photos of the deceased ones, papel picado or cut tissue-paper designs, as well as food and beverages offerings for the dead. To welcome them, the family build altars in their honor. El día de Los Muertos is celebrated on November 1st and November 2nd, in which the spirits of the dead are believed to return home and spend time with their relatives on these two days. As the only answer to many of our questions, death is an integral part of life, and the living and the dead meet in this day to emphasize the importance of death in the cycle of life.ĭía de los Muertos acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between life and death. A continuous echo that at certain occasions becomes louder. Those who passed are alive in our memories. Its precedents date to more than 3000 years ago when the Olmecs and subsequent Toltecs, Mixtecs, Zapotecs, Maya, and Aztecs honored death. If you plan to head to Old Town, organizers say gates will be open until 9 pm.In Mexico, death rites date from pre-Hispanic rituals represented in murals, painted pottery, monuments, and artifacts, which shows how the Day of the Dead has its origins in the rituals practiced by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The County of San Diego will have its Altars de Muertos Celebration at 6:30 pm. The celebration will include face painting for kids, traditional dancing, Mariachi, and more. “Old town, in general, is the heart of Mexican San Diego and the heritage that has been in place here for generations,” says Ross. Ross says it's important for the old town community to celebrate this long-standing tradition. “We have custom hand-made life-size and larger Katrinas, skulls.”īusinesses in Old Town are embracing the day of the dead. “We have 20,000 marigold garlands,” says Director of Operations Rya Ross. Over in Old Town, Fiesta De Reyes is having a two-day celebration. Bright orange marigold flowers and decorative skulls sit outside of police headquarters downtown. San Diego Police are honoring their fallen officers. “We thought it was a nice way for people to come out and recognize those who had passed from Covid but now, it’s evolved and grown into a traditional Día de Los Muertos celebration,” says Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher. This is the county’s third year for the celebration. “For the county of San Diego to really take this on, I think it’s a good opportunity for us to come together as a community,” says Vargas.ĭozens of volunteers were up early before sunrise to put up the colorful displays. The photo of her father sits between dozens of community members who have passed. It was an emotional moment for Supervisor Vargas as she placed her parent's photo on the altar outside of the county administration building. “This is my first Día de Los Muertos where I celebrate my dad,” says San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas. Members of the community say this a day to reflect and remember loved ones who have passed. There are several altars and events happening around the county. SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Día de Los Muertos is traditionally a two-day holiday that is observed on Nov.
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