By Allison Strickland
U of L to hold “Day of the Dead” celebration at Red Barn
The University of Louisville will have its second annual celebration of the Hispanic heritage called the Day of the Dead on November 1.
The event will take place in the Red Barn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature entertainment, food, crafts, music and videos. A free lunch of authentic Latin cuisine will be served at noon.
The holiday El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrates the cycle of life and death with family and friends, and also marks a social ritual of families remembering their dead.
“We want to show how Hispanic cultures look at death differently than Americans,” said Dr. Manuel Medina, associate professor of Classical and Modern Languages and one of the organizers of the event. “Death is more like a literal passage into another life.”
In Mexican culture, death is celebrated, a tradition much different than that of American culture, where death is mourned. Instead of celebrating the American Halloween holiday, Mexicans celebrate El Dia de los Muertos. They believe that the dead come to visit for three days (October 31 – November 2). On these days, the family members decorate gravesites of their close kin with flowers and have a picnic in the cemetery. Stories are also told about the departed relatives.
The event will include an altar similar to those used by Mexican families in their homes for the Day of the Dead. These altars honor deceased relatives and are decorated with candles, flowers, and personal items significant to their lives. Skeletons meant to represent the dead will also be used.
Dramatic readings of literature related to the Hispanic observance will be given by 300-level Spanish students, and a play, Don Juan Tenorio, will be presented by faculty members. This play is shown in Spain for their Day of the Dead celebration.
Several educational exhibits and craft booths, like those that would mark the day in Mexico and some other Latin American countries, will be set up for visitors.
According to Medina, information in the form of posters and PowerPoint presentations will be displayed to “educate American audiences about the event.” Videos will also run periodically throughout the event’s duration.
The Day of the Dead event is sponsored by the Spanish section of the classical and modern languages department, the Modern Languages Fund, Spanish Club, International Center, and Latin American Club of Louisville.
For more information, call the classical and modern languages department at (502) 852-6686.
