The Day of the Dead is a holiday to honor the deceased. Although that may sound sorrowful, the Day of the Dead is festive in many countries.
The holiday lasts three days, beginning the night of Oct. 31 and ending Nov. 2. However, families may have different days to celebrate.
Junior Nadia Kindt’s family often celebrates later than what is traditional. “This year we are celebrating it on the second, but it’s sometime around Nov. 10 when we usually celebrate,” Kindt said.
Before the Day of the Dead, there is a lot of preparation for an ofrenda. An ofrenda is a table or altar made with photos and offerings to honor any loved ones lost.
Freshman Sadie Comelie’s family uses specific items to honor their family. “My grandpa worked in construction, and he had this vest, so we put it up [on my family’s ofrenda] every year,” Comelie said.
Junior Mariana Loya’s family also adds personal items to the ofrenda in memory. “We find the pictures of our loved ones, and we put [them up as] an offering on the ofrenda,” Loya said. “We put their favorite drinks, sometimes I put a shot of tequila there from my grandpa, and we put their favorite foods and candy.”
There is more tradition surrounding the ofrenda than simply putting photos and offerings. “We always go around and share a story about someone who we have on our ofrenda,” Kindt said. “Some of these people we’ve never met, and so we just retell stories that we’ve been told. My story is always that I look like my uncle.” Some students at school celebrate the Day of the Dead in class as well.
Each student celebrates a little differently, Although traditionally people will spread marigold or cempazuchitl petals along the roads leading to houses to welcome the deceased family inside.
“My family in Mexico spreads petals around town,” Kindt said, “[They have the petals] leading to people’s homes, and then they all get together, in the town square, and they all dance and have one big ofrenda on the fountain. [in the town square]”
It is more uncommon for families to spread out the marigold or cempazuchitl petals along the roads in Shawnee however there are still many families who practice the tradition in their own way.
“We have the flowers. We put it outside our front door, so the honored can come in, welcoming the dead,” Loya said.
Junior Kayln Ortega’s family also differs from tradition when celebrating the Day of the Dead.
“I have family in Mexico,” Ortega said. “My grandparents celebrate [and] they go to the cemetery. We usually go to a parade in Kansas City, Missouri.”
The Dia de los Muertos Festival in Kansas City Missouri happens annually and it will take place on Nov. 3rd this year. Another parade is called Day of the Dead Dia de Muertos on Central Avenue and this parade also happens annually but falls on Nov. 2nd this year.
Aside from general celebration, there is also the topic of food which carries a lot of tradition.
“A lot of Mexican food and drinks, that the [deceased] people used to like to drink [are on the ofrenda],” Loya said. “We’ll make tamale, or we’ll just get the people who have passed favorite food, and just put it up on the ofrenda.”
Kindt’s family has a lot of similar traditions when it comes to preparing food for the celebrations. “Cheese and pepper carnitas, corn, sugar and cinnamon, [tamales during our celebration]” Kindt said.
