By Allison Strickland
“El Dia de los Muertos” brings touch of poignant Spanish culture to campus
A solemn atmosphere surrounded the Red Barn on Friday, November 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the University of Louisville hosted its second annual “El Dia de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead,” celebration.
The Mexican holiday celebrates the cycle of life and death with family and friends, and also marks a social ritual of families remembering their dead. The celebration is a mixture of Hispanic and Indian cultures, although the Spanish celebration is not as festive as that of Indians. On this day, families visit the cemeteries of their deceased loved ones and decorate the tombs with flowers, breads and fruits in baskets, and hand embroidered napkins, as well as incense so that the aroma will guide the returning souls.
In Mexican culture, death is celebrated in 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 to 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.
High school students visited the event to learn more about the Day of the Dead. “We tried to emphasize that it was different from Halloween,” said Dr. Manuel Medina, associate professor of classical and modern languages and one of the organizers of the event. “It gave different perceptions of the dead.”
An altar, similar to those used in Mexico on this day to honor deceased relatives, was set up by 300-level Spanish students. They decorated the altar with candles, flowers, and pictures of family members.
“It was very personal,” said Medina.
Videos were shown periodically throughout the event. These showed how the Day of the Dead celebration was done in different parts of Mexico, contrasting the way North and South Mexico and Mexico City celebrated.
Faculty members performed the play Don Juan Tenorio, which is shown in Spain for their Day of the Dead celebration. Portions of the play were shown throughout the day, according to Medina. Dramatic readings of literature related to the Hispanic observance were given by 300-level Spanish students.
A craft booth allowed visitors to make toys similar to those that children receive for the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Skulls were decorated and puppets were made.
Another booth was set up with “opportunities to go to Latin American countries,” said International Program Advisor DeWayne Frazier. “It provides an opportunity to learn about other cultures.”
Janessa Bryan, a graduating anthropology major, also had a booth set up during the event. She was able to share with people her experiences from Michoacan, Mexico. “I was really impressed with the organization, and I was really impressed with the delivery. It made it clear that this was a spiritual occasion, not a festival.”
“A lot of people helped us: the Latin American Club of Louisville, Latin American Studies, International Studies, and Spanish Club,” said Medina. “This was more successful than last year. There were more people, it was better organized, and there was more room.”
